Each year, on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. This event serves to recognize and thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
"World Blood Donor Day" Facts:
- The day aims to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products for individuals in need.
- Transfusion of blood and blood products help save millions of lives every year.1
- However, in many countries, demand exceeds supply. It becomes a challenge to ensure the quality, safety and sufficient supply of the blood donation.
It is the World Health Organization’s goal to have all countries obtain their blood supplies from voluntary, unpaid donors by 2020.1
- Only 62 countries is close to getting 100% of their national blood supplies from voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
- 40 countries are still dependent on family and paid donors.1
What can you do to help?
Donating blood is a life-saving gift.
If you have donated in the past, perhaps now is the time to consider donating again, or
If you have never given blood before, contact your national blood transfusion charity or organisation to understand the donation process more.
Did You Know?
- Approximately 108 million units of donated blood are collected globally each year.
- Nearly 50% of these blood donations are collected in high-income countries, home to less than 20% of the world’s population.2
Sources
- World Blood Donor Day 2016: Blood Connects Us All. World Health Organization. Visited April-6 2016
- 10 Facts on Blood Transfusion. World Health Organization. Visited April 6 2016.
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