Mumbai: The famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal in Mumbai, which has decided to celebrate this year's Ganeshotsav as a 'health festival' in view of COVID-19 pandemic, has taken the initiative of organising blood and plasma donation camps across the state.
So far, the Ganesh Mandal board has traced 137 plasma donors, who will go to KEM Hospital in Parel from August 1 to donate their plasma.
Currently, the board is working to increase the number of donors.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Sudhir Salvi, secretary of the Lalbaug Mandal said that the board will run a plasma donation campaign through KEM Hospital in Mumbai.
"The board has expedited the process of locating, contacting and registering patients who are currently recovering and preparing them for plasma donation", Salvi told ETV Bharat.
"So far the board has contacted many patients who have recovered. Of these, 137 patients have been registered for plasma donation. So, this search will continue," he added.
Salvi also said that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Municipal Hospital and private organizations are also working to increase the number of plasma donors, with Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal taking the lead.
He said the initiative is to find as many plasma donors as possible through the Health Festival and get them registered.
"So now we are working on raising awareness and eradicating fear. On the other hand, we are looking for healed patients through various means. Therefore, a large number of donors will come forward soon," concluded Salvi.
Lalbaugcha Raja is among the most popular and most visited Ganesh idols in the city and it is also known for fulfilling wishes of the people.
The 10-day festival begins on 'Ganesh Chaturthi', which falls on August 22 this year.
The Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal has been installing the Ganpati idol at its pandal in Central Mumbai since 1934.
