In a move aimed at promoting voluntary blood donation in a country where most of the blood requirement in the hospitals is still fulfilled by replacement donors, about 50 medical students — including 10 girls — set an example when they thronged the blood bank of Christian Medical College and Hospital in the afternoon.

Motivating others on the way to the blood bank, the students, all of them in high spirits, exclaimed their happiness and said they were upbeat about their participation for a cause which will eventually prove life-saving for the patients, who require blood in emergency.

Punjab is said to have one of lowest ranks when it comes to voluntary blood donations. The experts say the state has the second lowest figures in the country as only 15 to 20 per cent of the overall blood donated in the state accounts for voluntarily donated blood.

In the absence of a smooth supply of blood coming from the volunteers, the hospitals meet their daily requirement of blood through replacement donors, who are generally the relatives of patients.

“People are just not aware enough that it is so easy to donate blood, otherwise many people could come forward to donate blood voluntarily. But there are not many people who are interested in doing the running around in order to convince people to donate blood,” said Prashant Matai, a student of MBBS final year at CMCH ,who motivated his friends and classmates to donate blood.

“The response was better than expected and even girl students came forward when I motivated them,” said Prashant.

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