1. World Organ Donation Day - 13 August 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on 13 August across the globe.
An Overview of the News
The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
It encourages people to become organ donors and promote organ donation to save lives.
The theme/slogan for World Organ Donation Day 2024 is "Be the Reason for Someone's Smile Today!"
History of World Organ Donation Day
The first temporarily successful transplant of a human kidney was performed by Jean Hamburger in Paris in 1953.
A kidney was transplanted from the mother to a 16-year-old child.
However, the first long-term successful kidney transplant was performed in the US in 1954.
This successful transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray.
For this, Dr. Joseph Murray received the "Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine" in the year 1990.
History of Indian Organ Donation Day
Indian Organ Donation Day was originally celebrated on the 27th of November from 2010 to 2022.
The day was initiated by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
In 2023, the date was shifted to August 3rd.
The change commemorates the success of the first deceased heart transplant in India, which took place on August 3rd, 1994.
2. World Blood Donor Day - 14 June
Tags: Important Days
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 14 June.
An Overview of the News
The day aims to express gratitude to the selfless voluntary blood donors and celebrate the essence of life and humanity.
The program emphasises the importance of ensuring universal access to safe blood transfusions.
The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2023 is "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often."
The theme highlights the importance of regular blood and plasma donations to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products around the world.
The host country of World Blood Donor Day 2023 is Algeria.
The National Blood Transfusion Service of Algeria is responsible for organising and coordinating the global program.
History of World Blood Donor Day
The World Health Organization (WHO) established World Blood Donor Day in 2004.
In 2005, the 58th World Health Assembly designated it as an annual global event.
World Blood Donor Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation.
Blood donation has ancient origins, with cultures recognizing the medical benefits of bloodletting and blood transfusions.
English physician Richard Lower contributed significantly to blood donation.
Lower's book, 'Tractatus de Cordae', documented his important work on blood transfusion and the functioning of the cardiopulmonary system.
3. PM Modi addressed the 75th 'Amrut Mahotsav' of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Sansthan
Tags: Festivals National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 75th Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan via video-conferencing on December 24.
Important facts
- The five-day Amrit Mahotsav celebrations were inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at Sahajanand nagar in Rajkot on 22 December.
- Spiritual leaders, saints and devotees from across the world are participating in large numbers in the grand Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to be held at Sahajanand Nagar in Rajkot.
- Mega blood donation camps, free medical check-up camps are being organized during Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, where renowned doctors are providing free medical services and free medicines to the people.
About Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan
- It was established at Rajkot in 1948 by seer Shri Dharmajivandasji Swami.
- It has expanded significantly and currently has more than 40 branches across the world, providing school, undergraduate and postgraduate education to more than 25,000 students.
4. National Cadet Corps celebrates 74th foundation day
Tags: Defence Important Days
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) is celebrating the 74th anniversary of its Raising Day on 27 November 2022. The NCC raising day is also being celebrated all over the country with cadets participating in marches, blood donation camps and social development programmes. It is the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world.
NCC Raising Day
NCC Day is observed on the fourth Sunday of November. The NCC was raised on 15th July 1948 in New Delhi, which was the fourth Sunday of the November month in 1948.For this reason the NCC raising Day is observed every year on the fourth Sunday of the November Month.
Formation of the NCC
After Independence the NCC in India was formed under the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948 and was raised on 15 July 1948.
The NCC is a voluntary military cadet corps under the Union Ministry of Defence and is open to school and college students.
It was set up to create a human resource of organized, trained and motivate youth to provide leadership in all walks of life and always available for the service of the nation
The motto of NCC is: “UNITY AND DISCIPLINE”.
Colonel (later retired as Chief of Army Staff) Gopal Gurunath Bewoor was the first Director of the NCC. He took over as Director of NCC on 31 Mar 1948.
Headquarters: New Delhi
Director General: Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh
5. National Voluntary Blood Donation Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year National Voluntary Blood Donation Day is observed on 1st October. It is observed to raise awareness about Blood donation and promote voluntary Blood donation in the country.
This year the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav, a countrywide mega drive for voluntary blood donation from 17th September to 1st October this year.
When was it started?
The National Voluntary Blood Donation was first observed in 1975. It was started by the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology.
Note
World Blood Donor day is observed on 14 June every year in the world.
The theme of the World Blood Donor day 2022 is: Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives.
6. World’s largest blood donation drive launched in Gujarat
Tags: State News Important Days
The Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the world’s largest blood donation drive on 17 September 2022 on the occasion of the 72nd birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ahmedabad.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The ‘Mega Blood Donation Drive’ has been organized by Akhil Bharatiya Terapanth Yuva Parishad Ahmedabad. According to the organizers “the target is to get more than 1, 50,000 units of blood donation by organizing around 2,000 Blood Donation Camps”
- Meanwhile in New Delhi the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav, a countrywide mega drive for voluntary blood donation from 17th September to 1st October this year.
- 1st October is observed as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
7. India donates 5000 tonnes of rice to Madagascar
Tags: International News
Indian Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar presented 5000 tonnes of rice to President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar at a donation ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Antananarivo.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Earlier, India donated 15 thousand bicycles to Madagascar on the occasion of World Bicycle Day. World Bicycle day is observed on 3 June every year.
- President Rajoelina thanked the Government and people of India for the generous donation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Madagascar :
- It is an island country off the South-East coast of Africa.
- It is the fourth largest island in the world after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo.
- Capital: Antananarivo
- Currency: Ariary
- President: Andry Rajoelina
8. World Organ Donation Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year 13 August is celebrated as World Organ Donation Day across the world with an aim to raise awareness about organ donation.
Important facts
Apart from this, “National Organ Donation Day” is celebrated on 27 November every year in India.
This year's theme is “let’s pledge to donate organs and save lives”.
Importance
This day is celebrated to dispel the myths of organ donation.
It wants to encourage people to donate their healthy organs after death as it will save more lives.
Its aim is to help people realise that many people lose their lives due to unavailability of healthy organs. Thus, voluntarily donating your healthy organs can change the lives of many people.
History of world organ donation
The first temporarily successful transplant of a human kidney was performed by Jean Hamburger in Paris in 1953.
A kidney was transplanted from the mother to a 16-year-old child.
However, the first long-term successful kidney transplant was performed in the US in 1954.
This successful transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray.
For this, Dr. Joseph Murray received the "Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine" in the year 1990.
