Kohima, April 5 (MExN): A blood donation camp was held on April 4 at Assam Rifles unit hospital, Tsiesema Basa. Organized by Voluntary Blood Donors Association (VBDA) Kohima in collaboration with Kripa Foundation and Blood Bank of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, 25 jawans from 9 Assam Rifles donated blood during the camp. A press release stated that the aim of VBDA is to promote and create awareness on voluntary blood donation in the State considering the need and shortage of blood in the Blood Banks. The main goal, it added, is to wipe out the scarcity of blood and ensure availability of safe and quality blood and also to motivate and encourage voluntary blood donors and gradually eliminate professional blood donors in the market. “It aims to educate the community on the beneficial aspect of blood donation and the harmful effects of receiving from professional donors. It also assists various organization, clubs, and educational institution to conduct blood donation camp,” according to the release. With the support of public, bureaucrats, media campaign and community based activities, the growing movement of voluntary blood donation in Nagaland is improving, it was informed. One of the main focuses of VBDA is to maintain the foundation of supplying blood needed for patients, the release added. On the same day, 9 Assam Rifles also organised blood donation camp at Chieswema in collaboration with Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK). A specially constituted team from NHAK executed the camp at the AR unit hospital, where 27 persons of 9 Assam Rifles donated blood which will be used by NHAK Blood Bank for treatment of emergency cases at their Trauma Centre.