Introduction:
Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate the World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to thank donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations; to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures.
Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.
Key Facts:
- Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health.
- Blood donation does not weaken body.
- There is no substitute for human blood; the gift of blood is the gift of life.
- Sickle cell patients may require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
- One donation can help save the lives of up to three people
- Platelets help blood clotting, giving those suffering from leukemia and other tumors a chance to live.
- There are approximately 108 million blood donations worldwide.
- In low-income countries, up to 65% of blood transfusions are given to children under 5 years of age.
- In 73 countries, more than 90% of their blood supply are collected from voluntary, unpaid donors.
Objectives of World Blood Donor Day:
- To engage authorities in the establishment of effective national blood donor programs with the capacity to respond promptly to the increase in blood demand during emergencies.
- Focus attention on blood services as a community service, and the importance of community participation, to come up with a sufficient blood supply.
- To promote and highlight the need to share life by donating blood.
- To Promote the integration of blood transfusion services into national emergency preparedness and response activities.
- To raise public awareness of the need for regular blood donation throughout the year in order to maintain an adequate supply of blood and achieve self-sufficiency at the national level.
- To make people more aware of the need to donate blood regularly.
- To celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood regularly and to encourage young people to become new donors as well.
- To promote international collaboration and to ensure worldwide dissemination of and consensus on the principles of voluntary non-remunerated donation, while increasing blood safety and availability.
Official Date:
Globally: June 14th, 2017
Locally: Ramadan 19th, 1438H
Theme of the World Blood Donor Day
Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often
Persons in need for blood:
- Persons who sustain different accidents.
- Patients to undergo major surgeries.
- Persons with leukemia or other tumor.
- Persons with genetic blood disorder such as anemia, sickle cell anemia, and thalassemia.
- Some mothers during childbirth.