JOWAI: After a prolonged wait lasting years, the much-awaited blood bank in Jowai was inaugurated at the district civil hospital on Wednesday by Deputy Chief Minister R.C. Laloo in the presence of Health Minister A.L. Hek.
The inaugural function held on the premises of the old Jowai Civil Hospital was attended by parliamentary secretaries Hopeful Bamon and Justine Dkhar, Director of Pasture Institute, Dr. R Wankhar, district police chief Herbert G. Lyngdoh, Medical Superintendent of Ialong Civil Hospital besides others officials and doctors of the health department, Rangbah Shnong, leaders of the Jaintia Students’ Union and others heads of government departments.
The inaugural function was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Peter S. Dkhar.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Wankhar informed that the blood bank inaugurated in Jowai is the 7th blood bank in the State.
“Since no artificial blood is available, we need blood on donation by voluntary donors,” he said.
Sutnga legislator Hopeful Bamon said the blood bank would provide immense benefits to the people of both West and East Jaintia Hills districts.
Khliehriat MLA Justine Dkhar said, “Unless people come forward to voluntarily donate blood, the blood bank will not have stock of different blood types.”
“We tried for years for a blood bank in Jaintia Hills but we could not obtain a license. Now that we have got the license the blood bank has been inaugurated,” Health Minister A.L. Hek told the gathering.
The Health Minister also requested people from all sections including MDCs, MLA, government officers, doctors and journalists to come forward to donate their blood.
Deputy Chief Minister R.C. Laloo lauded the efforts of the JSU who were persistent with their demand for a blood bank in Jaintia Hills.
To mark the occasion, a blood donation camp was organised in which 20 donors voluntarily donated their blood. The JSU had arranged for 40 volunteers, besides 50 others from Kiang Nangbah Government College and 40 donors from Thomas Jones Synod College; however, the doctors were able to collect blood from only 20 donors.