Chandigarh, 6 November: In a landmark moment for healthcare in the City, Rotary Club Chandigarh today dedicated the state-of-the-art automated blood component processing equipment to the people of Chandigarh.

The Cryofuge 16 was formally handed over to the Rotary & Blood Bank Society Resource Centre (RBBSRC), Sector 37, by former world President of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo, in the presence of senior doctors, Rotarians, donors and citizens, marking a new era in component blood banking in the region.

"The blood bank had two component seperators earlier, and with new state-of-the-art Cryofuge 16, one unit of blood will now be separated in minutes into three important blood components, namely PRBC (Packed Red Cells) - for anemia, surgery and accident victims; FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma) - for liver disease and bleeding disordersPlatelets / Cryoprecipitate - for dengue, cancer and hemophilia patients, said Dr Manish Rai, Director of RBBSRC.

Rs.65 lakh machine has been funded through the Global Grant of the Rotary Foundation, funds from Rajendra K. Saboo, and partner Rotary Clubs of Salt Lake City, USA, Rotary Club of Jagadhri, and Rotary District 5420 informed Anil Nehru, Chairman Governing Council of the Blood Bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Teena Virk, President, Rotary Club Chandigarh, said: "This is not a machine, but a promise. Every time a citizen donates blood, this Cryofuge will ensure that one donation does not save one life, but three"