Ahmedabad: Now, if you gather your ‘blood XI (eleven),’ the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) van will reach you to collect the units. The initiative will be launched on Sunday, observed as World Blood Donor Day. Dr Vishwas Amin, director of the Red Cross blood bank, said that so far, the norm has been a blood donation camp of at least 25 persons.“But to encourage blood donation, we are now going for even 11 blood units. No donation is small, and to underline this, we are felicitating blood donors who have donated more than 5, 10, 25, 50, or 75 times,” he said.Linking the AI 171 airplane crash tragedy a year ago to the initiative, Dr Amin said that a record 800 units were donated on that day, as nearly 1,100 people had approached the facility. “We are sending these Good Samaritans a message on Sunday, thanking them for their service and encouraging them for regular blood donations,” he said.At Prathama Blood Bank, the day will be marked by the felicitation of 36 women who have donated more than five times. “We are honouring donors who have contributed between five and 35 times. Their generosity, compassion, and dedication serve as an inspiration to society and encourage more women to participate in this noble cause,” said Dr Ripal Shah, director of Prathama Blood Bank.
