The Regional Blood Centre (RBC) Dera Ismail Khan has intensified its campaign to promote voluntary blood donation among students through awareness sessions, blood donation camps, institutional visits, coordination meetings and partnerships with educational institutions.
The initiative aims to develop a sustainable pool of voluntary blood donors while providing students with practical exposure to blood donation, screening, blood banking and related technical services. The campaign is being conducted under the guidance of Regional Blood Centre Manager Dr Muhammad Rizwan Rajput.
As part of the outreach programme, the RBC has engaged colleges, universities and health education institutions across the district to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation for patients with thalassemia, cancer and other medical emergencies.
Health Education Officer Sajjad Ahmad Khan Mahsud conducted an awareness session at Government Degree College No. 1 in Dera Ismail Khan, where students were briefed about voluntary blood donation and its role in supporting patients requiring transfusions. The session was followed by a blood donation camp organised in collaboration with the college administration, with a large number of students participating.
The RBC has also held meetings with representatives of various educational and health institutions to discuss awareness activities, donation camps, student participation and potential institutional partnerships. Discussions have included the possibility of signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and providing students with four to six weeks of practical training at the Regional Blood Centre.
Officials also engaged institutions including the Polytechnic Institute, PIMT College and the Khyber Medical University D.I. Khan campus to coordinate future blood donation camps and awareness sessions. The institutions expressed their willingness to cooperate with the centre in encouraging students to participate in voluntary blood donation activities.
The centre has expanded its institutional collaboration through an MoU with the University of Agriculture Dera Ismail Khan. Under the agreement, awareness sessions will be organised for students, while selected students will have the opportunity to receive four to six weeks of practical training in blood donation, blood screening, blood banking and related services.
The RBC has also signed an MoU with Apex Institute of Medical Sciences to promote blood donation awareness and student training. Following the agreement, an awareness activity was held for students, followed by a blood donation drive. Students participating in the training programme will receive certificates after successfully completing their practical training.
The Regional Blood Centre plans to establish further partnerships with public and private educational institutions across the district to create a wider network for voluntary blood donation, awareness and practical training.
The centre has urged students, educational institutions, civil society, religious scholars, traders, youth, district authorities, security personnel and citizens to participate in voluntary blood donation activities. Officials highlighted the importance of donated blood for thalassemia and cancer patients, as well as people requiring urgent transfusions following accidents, emergencies and other critical conditions.
