Prathama Blood Centre is adjudged as the no.1 blood center in Gujarat in the category of well performing blood banks in Trust Sector. On the occasion of All India Voluntary Blood Donation Day, Honorable Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Gujarat Shri Jaynarayan Vyas has presented the '1 st Prize' memento to Prathama Blood Centre. The felicitation event was organized by Gujarat State Council for Blood Transfusion.

Prathama Blood Centre is established 8 years back with a clear vision of promoting voluntary blood donations in the country and also ensure 100% blood availability without replacement. In this short span, it could mobilize more than 2,50,000 voluntary blood donations and distributed more than 5,00,000 components to needy patients. As a result about 50% of blood component requirement of the city is now met by Prathama Blood Centre. As it always believed, quality of blood component is paramount. More than 2000 clinicians in Ahmedabad vouch for the quality components of Prathama. This strong desire to raise blood quality to international standards has been one of its core values of the organization. In Ahmedabad, at every 12 minutes someone donates blood at Prathama. Out of every 100 blood donors of Ahmedabad 25 donate at Prathama Blood Centre. We issue 1 blood component at every 6 minutes. This is because of its intensive social awareness campaign and systematic approach to blood donation and blood supply.

Prathama Blood Centre has celebrated “World Thalassemia Day” on 8th May 2009. Prathama has been supportive to more than 250 Thalassemia and Hemophilia children for past 9 years. Every year 1 lakh blood components are given to patients from various hospitals and dispensaries at subsidized testing charges. Highly safe blood components are provided to them without asking for replacement (unlike other blood banks), at 60-100% discounted testing charges. Many Thalassemic children and their parents reported that they acquired TTI (Transfusion Transmitted Infections) in past when they were dependent on other blood banks. They now shifted to Prathama for reliable and safe blood components. This number is increasing now.

In India many poor families find it hard to manage the recurring cost of blood transfusion to thalassemic children. More over to arrange blood donors every 15 days is highly stressful job. It is difficult to manage voluntary healthy blood donors. To reduce the stress levels and provide safe and reliable blood components Prathama has developed no-replacement policy and encouraged them to take advantage.

On 8th May in an event organized at Samartheswar temple ground in Ahmedabad, about 150 Thalassemic children with their parents, 200 blood donation camp organizers, and representatives of NGOs, Charitable Hospitals and other dignitaries took part to cheer up Thalassemic children and encourage voluntary blood donation. The event inaugurated at 07.00 pm where Principal Secretary Health Mr.Ravi Saxena and Swami Adhyatmanandaji from Shivanand Ashram unveiled the new blood mobile van “CATTIVA” along with Thalassemic children. The Blood Mobile Vans of Prathama are famous world over for their design and architect and blood donors love to donate regularly in these vans at their doorstep. On this occasion a traditional folk art “Bhavai” also presented on the theme of voluntary blood donations and the cause of Thelassemia by one of the Thalassemic graduate Ms.Upasana. She formed a theater group to bring awareness in society on Thalassemia.

Health Secretary Gujarat in his address emphasized the need to develop programs to support Thalassemic children and appreciated the efforts of Prathama Blood Centre. Swami Adhyatmanandaji appealed people to come forward and donate blood voluntarily for the sake of Thalassemic and hemophilic children. On this day 101 voluntary donors donated blood in new blood mobile van and dedicated it to the cause of Thalassemia.

Year 2009, the global theme for World Blood Donor Day placed a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supplies through the achievement of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components. Ahmedabad city stands at no.1 position in the country when it comes to blood donor population. Though 3.5% population donates blood, large chunk is still survives on replacement donations that are not safe and quite premitive. Prathama is the only blood centre in Ahmedabad city that encourages 100% voluntary donations for the safety of patients as well as blood donors. Prathama distributes 100,000 safe blood components every year collected from non-remunerated voluntary blood donors.
 
Every year Prathama Blood Centre celebrates world blood donor day with lot of events and enthusiasm. This year the event are planned at 5 major locations of the city. Himalaya Mall, 10 Acre City Mall, Dev Arc Mall have took the lead in organising the blood donation drives on this day. Various events are planned for blood donors and their families. Digambar Jain Samaj of Ahmedabad and Talod also joined hands to celebrate world blood donors day where donors came in large number.

Radio Mirchi as FM radio partner has continuously announced the event and encouraged people to come forward to participate in the event. Various brands and retailers have come forward to sponsor gifts and games to blood donor families. Drawing competition on the theme of “100% Voluntary Blood Donation” was organized for children and mementos were given to winners. Singing and dancing competition was also organized. Blood donors thoroughly enjoyed the day. The event has become so popular in the city that every one looks forward to celebrate World Blood Donor Day. At this event 880 voluntary non-remunerated blood donors donated blood.

As said earlier, for the safety of Blood Donors and patients Prathama launched 2major programs on this day. 1. Hepatitis B vaccination & 2. Iron tablets distribution to beat Anemia. Regular voluntary blood donors are the lifeline of any society. Prathama as its moral obligation has always designed various programs to take care the health of regular blood donors. Last year Gujarat has witnessed outbreak of Hepatitis B virus. About 3% of voluntary blood donors are tested positive for Hepatitis B.

Prathama on the occasion of WBDD, vaccinated 330 regular blood donors on this day and aims to cover 7000 blood donors in 2009. This not only helps voluntary donors to be protected from deadly virus but also reduces the transfusion risk. Dr.Ravindra Singh, Chief Medical Officer of Prathama said that the "immunization will protect them for 5 years and they should take booster dose after 5 years". The vaccination program will continue for entire year and regular blood donors who donated more than 5 times are encouraged to take the benefit of this program.

About 20-25% of voluntary blood donors are deferred at Prathama voluntary blood donation drives for lower hemoglobin count i.e., less than 12.5. This is indication of low iron levels in body. Anemia is a silent disease creeping into our modern lifestyle and can have damaging effect. We must take care of our health. Generally a person will come to know about this problem when his or her blood tested for hemoglobin levels. Regular blood donors are the one who get this opportunity to know about their health status.

Education and initial iron supplements could be helpful along with doctor’s consultation. Prathama has arranged free consultation to all blood donors who are deferred for anemia. Around 60 clinicians in Ahmedabad consented to give free health consultation to regular blood donors of Prathama. A blood donor can access the 'Doctor's Directory' from Prathama and visit them at any time. They just have to carry the "Blood Donor Booklet" along with them and present it to the visiting doctor to get free consultation.

On WBDD 14th June 2009, Prathama has launched iron pills distribution program to all deferred donors. About 200 deferred blood donors are given iron pills on this day and asked to consult the doctor. One pill a day for some time could replenish the iron levels of the body as excess of iron is also not good for the body. It is observed that among vegetarians the dietary iron intake remains low compared to non-vegetarians. Hence they should take special care about their food and eat iron rich foods like spinach, radish as part of their regular diet. Literature on improving food habits also distributed to voluntary blood donors.