Human blood is universally recognized as the most precious and essential element of human life. The collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors is an important measure for ensuring the availability and safety of blood transfusion. Adequate and safe blood supply is a demanding challenge in developing countries like India. Every year, state like Uttarakhand which is visited by lakhs of visitors during pilgrimage season and where natural calamities and accidents are very common, the availability of blood is of utmost importance.
Human blood is an essential component of human life which is universally recognized as the most precious element that sustains life and there are no substitutes to blood as yet. Availability of safe blood and blood products is a critical aspect in improving health care. A blood transfusion saves millions of lives each year, but adequate and safe blood supply is a demanding challenge in developing countries like India. Hence World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a policy aimed at 100% voluntary donor blood procurement by the year 2020. Worldwide the total blood donations have been 92 million units including all types of blood groups and of them 45 percent donors were under 25 years and 40 per cent or more of the blood had come from women in 25 countries
In India, however, only six per cent women donated blood in 2011. Every year, our nation requires about four crore units of blood, out of which only a meager 40 Lakh units of blood are available. A nation can meet all its need for blood if only one percentage to three percentage of its eligible population donate blood. India on an average has 50% of eligible donors. The need for blood is growing day by day as a result of advancement in the clinical medicine as in most developing countries family donors and paid donors are still significant source of blood component for transfusion.