Adopt blood donation as religion: Ghulam Azad Nabi

"Adopt blood donation as your religion" -- says Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, himself a blood donor.

"I have been a blood donor and I urge all of you to adopt blood donation as a religion in this country," Azad said addressing the Annual General Meeting of Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) here.

He said more people should come forward to donate blood so as to make India self sufficient.

Azad also distributed prizes for maximum number of voluntary blood donation to Gujarat and Orissa branches of IRCS for promoting voluntary blood donation.

Nagaland (2004-05), Orrisa (2005-09) and Andhra Pradesh (2010) won the awards for highest membership and fund raising.