14/06/2025
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated globally as a tribute to the millions of voluntary, unpaid blood donors who give others a second chance at life. Their generosity saves lives, strengthens communities, and embodies the spirit of solidarity.
The Department of Pathology, University Medical and Dental College (UMDC), has been celebrating this day through awareness lectures, seminars, blood donation drives, and quiz competitions. These activities aim to encourage both new and existing donors, highlight the positive impact of blood donation on the health and well-being of recipients, and raise public awareness about the critical need for blood and plasma donations and their life-saving impact.
This year, the Pathology Department marked World Blood Donor Day with a seminar aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need for safe blood donations and proper transfusions, under the global slogan: “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Usman Ansari, Professor of Hematology at Aziz Fatima Medical College and Consultant Hematologist at Aga Khan Regional Center, Faisalabad, as the guest speaker. Prof. Dr. Shirza Nadeem, Vice Principal of UMDC, also graced the occasion with her presence.
Of special mention, Arooj Fatima, a final-year MBBS student and President of the UMDC Blood Donation Society, delivered a comprehensive overview of the society’s mission and recent activities. Following her presentation, Sidra Aslam, also a final-year MBBS student, presented digital posters created by students from all academic years as part of a competition. These posters emphasized the importance of blood donation.
The highlight of the seminar was an insightful talk by Dr. Usman Ansari on “Massive Blood Transfusion Protocols.” He explained how to manage large-scale transfusions during emergencies, enabling both students and faculty to gain a clearer understanding of the foundational principles of blood donation and transfusion practices.
Next, Dr. Sadia Ijaz, Associate Professor of Hematology at UMDC, acknowledged the crucial support provided by the MTH Blood Bank in collaboration with the UMDC Blood Donation Society and the Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority. The blood bank’s timely assistance during the Bunyan-ul-Marsoos mission was instrumental in the operation’s success. A moment of silence was observed, during which the audience, faculty, and guests paid tribute to the Pakistan Army for the successful completion of this critical national security mission.
Dr. Usman Ansari was presented with a shield of acknowledgment by Prof. Dr. Shirza Nadeem. The winners of the Digital Poster Competition were also announced and honored with awards. Dr. Usman Ansari, Prof. Dr. Shirza Nadeem, Dr. Shazia Aslam (Head of the Pathology Department), and Dr. Komal Atta (Director of Medical Education) presented medals and certificates to the winners.
In her closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Shirza Nadeem expressed gratitude to the guest speakers, participants, and faculty members for their invaluable contributions to the event’s success.
