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Gujarat CM Opens Red Cross Building, Centre for Thelesemia & Sickle Cell Prevention Centre

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Blood Banks
Haemophilia
Health
Hospital
Thelesemia

Gujarat Government will bear the cost of expensive medicines for thalassemia, haemophilia and sickle cell anemia patients and also 50 per cent cost of rushing vital organs for transplant by helicopter or air-ambulance as part of its compassionate policy, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said here today.

He said the government will also provide pension to sickle cell patients prevalent among tribal people to save them from physical labour.

Mr. Rupani was inaugurating the new building of Indian Red Cross Society’s Gujarat Branch and the Prevention Centre for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Research & Training. He flagged off 15 mobile blood donation vans in presence of the Health Minister and Chief Donor Tulsi Tanti.

Describing blood donation as a major social virtue, he suggested opening blood collection centres in the state’s Sub-District Hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs). He said Gujarat collected about 8.65-lakh units of blood last year. There are 142 blood banks and 16 Red Cross Blood Banks in the state. The 15 new mobile vans will soon go rural, to hasten blood donation in the interior areas.

He described liver, kidney, heart transplant as another important healthy practice to save many lives suffering from organ failures. He listed the other government initiatives like low-cost generic stores and health cover up to Rs.2-lakh for 32-lakh families having Ma Vatsalyam Cards.

Mr. Rupani felicitated the blood donors and office-bearers of the blood bank. He asked philanthropists, voluntary organizations, service oriented doctors to popularize blood donation, organ transplant and make the state free from malaria.

Health Minister Shankar Chaudhry, Indian Red Cross National Headquarters Vice-President Avinash Khanna, Union Joint Health Secretary Vinita, Dr Acharya also spoke on the occasion.

Those present on the occasion included MP Kirit Solanki, MLAs, Doctors, NGOs and Municipal Councilors.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat