Introduction:
Transfusions of blood and blood products save millions of lives every year, especially in women with postpartum hemorrhage, anaemia in children, blood disorder patients, genetic disease patients, accident victims, and others. Coinciding with the birth date of Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood group system, this event is celebrated around the world on June 14th.
Facts:
- Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions.
- About 12,700 blood centers in 170 countries report collecting a total of 100 million blood donations.
- Around 117.4 million units of donated blood are collected globally every year. 42% of these blood donations are collected in high-income countries, home to 16% of the world's population.
- The first World Blood Donor Day was established in 2005.
- The Saudis ranked first among 28 countries in terms of blood donation by 58%, according to a study of the UK's research organization «Ipsos MORI».
Objectives:
- To celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated blood to start donating.
- To highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion.
Official Date:
Globally: June 14th, 2021
Locally: Dhu al-Qadah 4th, 1442H
Theme:
(Give Blood and Keep the World Beating)
References: