WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY 14th JUNE 2012

On 14 June 2012, World Blood Donor Day will be marked with events around the world to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank all voluntary unpaid donors for their life-saving gift of blood.

The transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help improve life expectancy and the quality of life for patients suffering from life-threatening conditions, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. In many countries, demand outstrips supply, and blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. Today, in 62 countries, national blood supplies are based on 100% (or more than 99.9%) voluntary unpaid blood donation. However, 40 countries still depend on family donors and even paid donors and collect less than 25% of their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid blood donors. The goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) is for all countries to obtain their blood supplies entirely from voluntary unpaid donors by 2020.

The global theme of World Blood Donor Day changes each year in recognition of the selfless individuals who donate their blood for people unknown to them. In 2011, voluntary blood donors over the world were recognized and thanked with events and activities, from forming “human blood drops” in public places to colouring iconic monuments in red. These events and activities served as powerful symbols on the day, and rallied community involvement in promoting voluntary unpaid blood donation in all countries. Support from government leaders, royalty and celebrities along with diverse community-based and youth-oriented activities, all contributed to the festivities.