Nagpur: City blood centre gets award for collecting max units during pandemic

NAGPUR: Nagpur’s prominent Lifeline Blood Centre has collected more than 67,000 units during the last three years, the highest for any government or private blood bank in the state despite the challenging situation created by the Covid pandemic and lockdowns. The Maharashtra State Blood Transfusion Council and the state government recognized this effort and felicitated the blood Centre on Blood Donor’s Day (June 14).
Health minister Rajesh Tope hailed the contribution of the centre. “We have realized the importance of blood donation during the pandemic. Maharashtra has collected the highest number of units in the country during this period. Lifeline Blood Center has the biggest contribution in it,” said Tope adding that the government is planning to start a blood bank in each tehsil and connect them to ensure the availability of blood in any situation.
On the occasion of Blood Donor’s Day, the top ten blood banks in the state, five each government and non-govt blood centres, centurion blood donors and prominent blood donation camp organizers were felicitated in Mumbai. Lifeline Blood Centre was selected for being the largest blood centre in the state by collecting a maximum number of blood units for the last 3 years. Lifeline was the only blood centre from Vidarbha region to receive this honour.
Medical director of the Lifeline Blood Centre Dr Harish Warbhe, Dr Vanashree Warbhe, Dr Himandri Tonpe, Dr Viraj Warbhe, Dr Pratiksha Warbhe and Pravin Sathavane received the award. Dr Harish Warbhe told that such honours give satisfaction and encouragement to work harder.
“Lifeline has already received many prestigious awards. We started India’s first RBD-Plasma Bank as per national quality standards for effective plasma therapy for Covid patients. We have adopted 135 thalassemia and sickle cell children, which is highest for any blood bank in central India,” he added.