On June 15, 2013, World Blood Donor Day was celebrated at Kulsum International Hospital (KIH)

On June 15, 2013, World Blood Donor Day was celebrated at Kulsum International Hospital (KIH) for raising awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for all needy patients.
The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2013 is “Give the gift of life: donate blood”. This special day is utilized to celebrate the role of voluntary blood donors around the world, it is hoped that a new generation of blood donors will emerge and provide sufficient supplies of the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save lives.
KIH celebrated this day by inviting the local community, members of civil society and SBTP (Safe Blood Transfusion Project) organizer.
Welcome speech was given by Dr. Aftab Ahmed Khan (Consultant Hematologist) who highlighted the role of blood bank in providing the safe blood transfusion to all patients. He emphasized that safe blood can only be provided by centers which follow standard essentials for screening and storing blood and its components. At KIH this is achieved by a team of dedicated Technicians, Technologist, Managers and Consultants who ensure that these standards have been followed in letter & spirit.
Prof. Dr. Hassan Abbas Zaheer (Chief Guest and Project Director of the Safe Blood Transfusion Services Program, Pakistan) also contributed and addressed that this year theme clearly speaks about the worth of blood donors. It also reinforces the urgent need for more people all over the world to become hero and lifesavers by volunteering to donate their blood on a regular basis. The theme is utilized to recognize and applause national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations and other non-governmental organizations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs and to reinforce regional, national and local campaigns.

Mr. Hannan Ali Abbasi (Commonwealth Youth Award Holder, President Pakistan Youth Assembly) also shared his experiences of donating blood. He emphasized on youth and young communities that they should voluntarily contribute their maximum to promote voluntary unpaid blood donation.

Prof. Dr. Iqbal Saifullah Khan (Medical Director, KIH) gave the final note and delivered his message that we at KIH are committed to deliver “premier healthcare services” to the community. On this occasion he emphasized that to ensure the safe blood transfusion public-private partnership is the need of the hour. Since screening if TTI is costly so such kind of combination will promote the screening at affordable prices. He also added that being one of the stakeholders of the subject we emphasize the clean blood donation, efficient and accurate screening of TTIs and safe blood transfusions here at KIH. Our motto is to give infection free blood to every patient and we are practicing it. But after getting NAT we would achieve a milestone in even safer blood transfusion.
At the end he paid profound gratitude to the all honorable guests and participants especially Prof. Dr. Hassan Abbas Zaheer, Dr. Haroon Khan, Dr. Aftab Ahmed Khan and Mr. Hannan Ali Abbasi. He also appreciated the efforts of Mr. Asim Ansari (Manager Lab & Blood Bank) and his team to arrange this wonderful event at KIH.