World Blood Donor Day 2018

On 14 June every year World Blood Donor Day is observed all around the world to spread awareness about the need for regular blood donations and its requirement to saves lives.

Blood Donors donate blood themselves to save the lives whether of accident victims or those who are in need of blood transfusion for the surgeries.

Do you know what is Blood Transfusion?

The transfer of blood or components of bloodfrom one person i.e. donor into the bloodstream of another person i.e. the recipient. It acts as a lifesaving operation to replace blood cells or blood products lost through bleeding or due to depression of the bone marrow.

World Blood Donor Day 2018: Theme

The theme of World Blood Donor Day 2018 is “Blood connect us all” and the event is hosted by Greece. This day is celebrated to thank the blood donors, to acknowledge them and encourage blood donation and new donors. The slogan of this day is 'Be there for someone else, Share Life, Give Blood', which refers to the care given to others while donating blood.

World Blood Donor Day 2018: History

Every year on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner on 14 June, 1868, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated. This event was first initiated and established to be celebrated on 14 June, 2004 by the "World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies” with an aim to raise public awareness about the need for safe blood donation voluntarily and unpaid by the healthy person.

In May 2005, WHO officially established with its 192 Member States, World Blood Donor Day at the 58th World Health Assembly in order to motivate all the countries worldwide to thank the blood donors for their precious step and saving lives of the people.

Objectives of celebrating World Blood Donor Day

- To provide a global platform to thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated.

- To raise awareness that blood donation action benefits the society as a whole.

- To promote and support effective national blood donor programmes and the elimination of a dependency on family/replacement and paid blood donation.

- To promote the adoption of the Club 25approach in various countries to encourage a commitment to regular, voluntary blood donation by young people at low risk of transmitting infection through their blood.

- To ensure and to promote international collaboration worldwide about the principles of voluntary non-remunerated donation, while increasing blood safety and availability.

- In order to maintain an adequate supply of blood for all patients throughout the year requiring transfusion.

- To encourage people to donate blood regularly on an unpaid basis.

- To promote low -risk behaviour so that individual can protect their health and be safe to donate blood.

The collaborative effort of World Health Organisation in promoting and celebrating World Blood Donor Day with a proper theme to encourage people for blood donation and saving life or to help who is need of blood.