Every year on June 14th, the world comes together to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, an occasion dedicated to recognising the critical role of voluntary blood donors. Blood donation is an often overlooked, yet incredibly important, act of generosity.
Donating blood is a simple process that can make a profound difference. A single donation can help multiple patients undergoing surgery, battling illness, or facing accidents. By encouraging more people to become blood donors, we can ensure a steady supply of this critical resource and empower medical professionals to save countless lives.
From the pulse of humanity to the rhythm of generosity – celebrate World Blood Donor Day with LIC, where every drop becomes a lifeline in the symphony of saving lives.#WorldBloodDonorDay #LIC pic.twitter.com/x3GTEZwWnj
— LIC India Forever (@LICIndiaForever) June 14, 2024
“रक्त दान महादान”
— Southern Command INDIAN ARMY (@IaSouthern) June 14, 2024
On #WorldBloodDonorDay, let's unite to give the gift of life. Your blood donation can make a difference and save lives.
Join us at Armed Forces Medical College (#AFMC), #Pune in making a difference and make this World Blood Donor Day a celebration of life and… pic.twitter.com/8myT0wN2hL
Every single blood or plasma donation is a precious life-saving gift.
— United Nations (@UN) June 14, 2024
Regular donation is the key to building a safe & sustainable supply.
On Friday's World Blood Donor Day, learn more about the importance of donating blood. https://t.co/7pbMlawFx5 via @WHO pic.twitter.com/LDlD6YkZnA
What is the History of World Blood Donor Day?
World Blood Donor Day has a relatively recent history, but it stems from a scientific breakthrough that revolutionized medicine. Here's a breakdown:
The Foundation: The discovery of the blood group system by Karl Landsteiner laid the groundwork for safe blood transfusions. This Austrian physician, who is celebrated on World Blood Donor Day, is considered the "founder" of modern blood transfusion
The Day is Born: To honor Landsteiner's contribution and raise awareness about the importance of blood donation, four major organisations joined forces. In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the first World Blood Donor Day.
WHO mentions: “The first World Blood Donor Day was observed in 2004, which was followed by its designation as an annual global event by the fifty-eighth World Health Assembly in 2005. World Blood Donor Day is now celebrated each year throughout the world on 14 June to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation and to recognize the contribution of voluntary unpaid blood donors in saving lives and improving health.”
World Blood Donor Day 2024: Theme
The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2024 is: "20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!"
This theme highlights two key aspects:
- Appreciation for Blood Donors: For the past two decades, World Blood Donor Day has served as a platform to express immense gratitude to voluntary blood donors. Their selfless act of giving blood has saved countless lives and continues to be the backbone of a safe and secure blood supply.
- A Milestone Year: 2024 marks 20 years of raising awareness and promoting blood donation. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and celebrate the dedication of blood donors, blood centres, and organisations working tirelessly in this field.
WHO mentions: “On World Blood Donor Day, celebrated on 14 June 2024, WHO, its partners and communities across the world will unite behind the theme: 20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!”
“The 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day is an excellent and timely opportunity to thank blood donors across the world for their life-saving donations over the years and honour the profound impact on both patients and donors. It is also a timely moment to address continued challenges, and accelerate progress towards a future where safe blood transfusion is universally accessible,” it adds.
World Blood Donor Day 2024: Key Messages
Here are the key messages shared by WHO on World Blood Donor Day 2024:
- “Safe blood saves lives.
- Blood is needed by women with complications during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anaemia, often resulting from malaria or malnutrition, accident victims and surgical and cancer patients.
- Regular blood donation by a sufficient number of healthy people is needed to ensure that blood will always be available whenever and wherever it is needed.
- While the need for blood is universal, access to blood is not. Blood shortages are acute in low- and middle-income countries.
- Every single blood or plasma donation is a precious lifesaving gift; regular donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable supply.”
World Blood Donor Day 2024: Facts
- The first successful blood transfusion was performed in 1818 by James Blundell
- According to WHO, “Of the 118.5 million blood donations collected globally, 40% of these are collected in high-income countries, home to 16% of the world’s population.”
- The Red Cross Blood Donation mentions: “Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets. “
- Blood cannot be manufactured and must come from voluntary donors.
- Type O negative blood is the universal donor and it is the most requested blood type by hospitals.
- According to the Red Cross Blood Donation, “Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.”
- WHO mentions: “An increase of 10.7 million blood donations from voluntary unpaid donors has been reported from 2008 to 2018. In total, 79 countries collect over 90% of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors; however, 54 countries collect more than 50% of their blood supply from family/replacement or paid donors.”
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