ZIRO, 17 Sep: Twenty-eight units of blood were collected during a blood donation camp organised by the students and faculty members of Indira Gandhi Technological And Medical Sciences University (IGTAMSU) at the university's campus here in Lower Subansiri district on Wednesday.

Organised by the university's NSS unit, in collaboration with the blood centre of Gyati Takka Zonal General Hospital (GTZGH), the drive was part of the annual nationwide mega voluntary blood donation initiative spearheaded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Under the supervision of the GTZGH medical team, standard screening, counselling, and collection protocols were carried out, ensuring total safety and resulting in zero adverse donor reactions.

By the end of the day, 28 units of blood were added to the hospital's emergency reserves, contributed by 16 male and 12 female donors.

The collected units spanned vital blood groups: 13 units of O+ve, 6 of A+ve, 5 of B+ve, and 4 of AB+ve. These contributions will play a crucial role in supporting local emergency care and ongoing patient treatment across the district.

The screening process also offered valuable health insights as 39 prospective donors (10 men and 29 women) were temporarily deferred. Low blood pressure (13 donors) and anaemia (9 donors) were the most common reasons, alongside temporary factors like recent infections, ongoing antibiotic courses, underweight status, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and recent vaccinations.

Medical staff noted that these findings highlight a key opportunity for future drives: helping donors prepare ahead of time with better guidance on hydration, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest.

The GTZGH blood centre team extended gratitude to IGTAMSU, its NSS volunteers, and every donor who took part. Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to working together on future drives. (DIPRO)