Paradip: Coast Guard personnel and their family members donated 80 units of blood as a run up to World Blood Donor Day-2025, on Wednesday. This year, World Blood Donor Day will be observed on June 14. The Coast Guard personnel are from the District Headquarters (Odisha) in Paradip under the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (North East).
The blood donation camp was organised at the Paradip camp by medical staff from the Jagatsinghpur District Hospital. The theme of this year’s Blood Donor Day-2025 is ‘Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives!”
“The Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters (Odisha), was the first donor. He thanked all donors for their participation in the noble cause, which is in consonance with the rich culture and traditions of our country. He appreciated the doctors and staff of District hospital, Jagatsinghpur for helping in conduct of the campaign,” a Ministry of Defence official said.
The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day matches the Indian Coast Guard’s motto of ‘Vayam Rakshamah’ or ‘We Protect’, the official said. Since it came into being in 1977, the ICG has saved 11,730 lives at sea. In 2024, the force saved 169 lives. This translates to a life saved at sea every second day.
The medical team emphasised the importance of blood donation and brought out the ongoing global need for transfusion of blood and blood products. During the camp, volunteers received complimentary health screening, including general medical check-up such as blood pressure and haemoglobin levels ensuring their fitness to donate.
The ICG plays an important role in protecting the country’s coastline. Apart from the facility at Paradip, where a number of ships and patrol vessels are based, the ICG also maintains an air enclave at Bhubaneswar.