World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is an international day celebrated annually on June 14 to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood. It is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Background

World Blood Donor Day was established in 2004 by the WHO, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to highlight the critical importance of voluntary blood donations in saving lives and enhancing community health. The date, June 14, was chosen to honor the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian biologist and physician who discovered the ABO blood group system, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930.

Purpose

The primary goal of World Blood Donor Day is to:

• Increase awareness of the necessity for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
• Celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to start donating.
• Promote the community values of blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion.
• Support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations, and other non-governmental organizations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs.

Themes

Each year, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated with a specific theme to highlight different aspects of blood donation. Past themes have included "Safe blood for saving mothers," "Give blood. Give now. Give often," and "Blood connects us all." These themes are chosen to emphasize the universal need for blood and the critical role every individual can play in meeting this need.

Activities

Activities on World Blood Donor Day include:

• Global and local events organized to thank donors, such as award ceremonies and public recognition events.
• Educational programs to raise awareness about the importance of regular blood donation.
• Blood donation drives to collect blood.
• Media campaigns to increase awareness and promote the day's theme.

Significance

The significance of World Blood Donor Day lies in its ability to mobilize action on a global scale. It serves as a reminder of the need to make blood donations a regular part of our lives to maintain a stable blood supply for treating patients and for emergency preparedness. By celebrating this day, the WHO and its partners aim to ensure that everyone who needs safe blood has access to it.