The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : HIV testing facility to be opened at Tambaram Sanatorium

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

HIV testing facility to be opened at Tambaram Sanatorium

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: : A building at Tambaram Sanatorium, worth Rs. 3.50 crores and equipped with HIV testing facilities, will soon be inaugurated, Health Minister N. Thalavai Sundaram said on Tuesday.

He was addressing a meeting organised by the Tamil Nadu branch of Indian Red Cross Society to mark the World Blood Donors Day. He said the services would be managed by the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society. A van for blood collection from donors would be provided to the government hospital at the inauguration of its new building. Voluntary donors contributed 1.20 lakh units out of 1.70 lakh units donated every year. The rest was donated by relatives of patients. Tamil Nadu stands second in the country in voluntary donation.

Mr. Thalavai Sundaram said 228 blood banks were functioning in the State. However, only trusts, which followed the norms, were sanctioned to run blood banks. Private hospitals charging over Rs. 500 per unit would face action.

Earlier, he planted trees and gave away prizes to six persons who donated blood for more than 15 times and rolling shields to 10 institutions which organised blood donation camps.

The Dr P. Sivaraj Rolling Trophy for extraordinary contribution towards blood donation by NCC cadets was conferred upon 13 Tamil Nadu Batallion NCC, HQ `B" group-Madras.

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