Hubli, 15^th June 2012: The World Blood Donor Day was celebrated on 14^th June 2012 at Weir BDK, Hubli, with a voluntary Blood Donation Camporganised with the help of Rotary Blood Bank Hubli & Rotary Club Mid-Town, Hubli. Close to 100 enthusiastic employees from Weir BDK participated in the camp, which also had the presence of some of the eminent people from the city, including Subhash Madiman, President Rotary Club Hubli Mid-Town, Dr. S. M. Honakeri, DAPCU officer, Mr. B. R. Sarathi, from Indian Read Cross Society and Dr. U. R. Hallikere, Cancer Hospital Blood Bank officer, among others. K. Satishwar Reddy, Plant Head Weir BDK led the enthusiastic volunteers of Weir BDK, reinforcing the commitments of Weir BDK Valves to social causes.

The event was also helpful in enhancing awareness for the urgent need of more people all over the world to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly. The need for safe blood and blood products was also emphasised.

June 14^th marks an important day in the world’s health calendar as the World Blood Donor Day. It is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, an American biologist and physician of Austrian origin, who developed the modern system of classification of the main blood groups in 1901, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in recognition of these achievements in 1930. World over, this day is marked by several volunteers who donate their blood voluntarily for the benefit of those who need it. The Rotary Blood Bank, which has been actively promoting blood donation camps in Hubli, provided the necessary support to make the camp successful. It optimizes the use of each unit of blood collected, separating it into blood components so that each unit saves the lives of 3-4 patients!

Over the years, Weir BDK has been actively participating in such blood donation camps, helping the urgent need for blood for sick and needy. As a part of ‘Weir Cares’ program, the company also responds to various needs in the society, such as education, employment and health.

The Rotary Blood Transfusion Centre & Blood Bank, Navanagar, co-located at the Karnataka Cancer Therapy & Research Institute, Dharwad, invites interested blood donors to donate at their blood bank. They also invite people to register as platelet donors who will be called to donate in case of a dengue outbreak.