KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed his government’s commitment to leading the promotion of voluntary blood donations in the province, aiming to establish a successful campaign that can be replicated nationally.

He made these remarks while speaking at the launch of “Indus Zindagi,” a national movement aimed at promoting voluntary blood donations across Pakistan.

The event was hosted by the Indus Hospital & Health Network at a local hotel. The principal donors of the Blood Centre, Farhan Hanif and his wife Shaista Farhan Hanif of Crown Group, graced the event with their support for the initiative.

Mr Shah revealed that despite the country’s vast population of over 240 million, only about 10 per cent of blood donations come from volunteers. He emphasised that this shortage of readily available blood leads to numerous lives lost every year.

He stated that Indus Zindagi is not just a campaign but a collective call to action for the people of Pakistan. He stressed the importance of uniting for the shared goal of ensuring that every Pakistani in need has access to life-saving blood through voluntary donations.

The CM praised the National Video Comp­etition as a significant start to this movement, as it encourages creative individuals to showcase the importance of voluntary blood donation.

He commended the participants and winners for their valuable contributions, calling them the chang­e­makers. CM pledged full government support for this national move­ment and urged every Pakistani to wholeheartedly embrace the cause.

The chief minister urged the transformation of the country’s blood donation system from replacement donations to voluntary contributions, emphasising that each individual has the power to save lives. By donating blood voluntarily, safe blood can be made available for those in need, anytime and anywhere.

Mr Shah called on everyone to join hands in this noble cause and make Indus Zindagi a resounding success, emphasising that together, a healthier and stronger Pakistan can be built.

It may be noted that “Indus Zindagi” began with a National Video Comp­etition, urging creative minds to craft videos, photos, or animations highlighting blood scarcity or encouraging voluntary donations. The competition received an overwhelming response, with submissions evaluated by a panel of media experts. Winners were announced during the campaign’s inaugural event, held to commemorate World Blood Donor Day. Winners received exciting prizes, such as the newest iPhone model, cash awards, and other exciting gifts.

Abdul Karim Paracha, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Dr Abdul Bari Khan, President of Indus Hospital & Health Network, warmly welcomed the guests. Dr Saba Jamal, Senior Director of the Blood Transfusion Services Directorate at IHHN, introduced “Indus Zindagi,” stating, “Indus Zindagi is more than just a campaign—it’s a national movement that challenges the status quo of replacement donations in the country. With this initiative, we unite Pakistanis to donate blood voluntarily, ensuring the availability of safe blood every time and everywhere. Throughout the year, activities will be arranged across Pakistan to engage and inspire the nation to donate blood voluntarily and become regular donors.

The goal is to gain momentum until 100pc voluntary blood donations across Pakistan have been achieved.“

The event featured a panel discussion titled “Change Makers Unite: Leading Pakistan’s Voluntary Blood Donation Movement,” which brought together leading medical professionals from blood centres and notable healthcare institutions across Sindh and Punjab, focusing on future strategies to enhance voluntary blood donation in the country. This was followed by the announcement and screening of the National Video Competition winners.

Prof. Syed Zafar Zaidi, Chief Executive Officer of IHHN, concluded the event with a closing speech, appreciating the participants and guests for their enthusiastic participation. He passionately urged the youth to embrace the urgent call-to-action, emphasising the importance of immediate and unified efforts for the nation’s benefit.

Indus Zindagi urges every Pakistani to inspire others by donating blood, fostering a lifesaving culture of voluntary blood donation.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2024