NEW DELHI, June 13:
Focussing on the idea that all of us can become a hero by donating blood, the World Blood Donor Day will be observed tomorrow, marked with events around the world to raise awareness on the need for safe blood and to thank all voluntary unpaid donors for their life-saving gift of blood.
The World Blood Donor Day was started by the Blood Transfusion Safety department of World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva and first approved by the World Health Assembly in 2005 to observe June 14 every year as the Blood Donor Day.
The day was selected as it is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner who is considered as father of modern Transfusion Medicine.
Jointly coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Blood Donor Day is observed every year with a theme.
The theme for this year’s World Blood Donor Day campaign is ‘Every blood donor is a hero’.
While recognising the silent and unsung heroes who save lives every day through their blood donations, the theme also strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly as everyday heroes respond to an immediate need for blood for transfusion, whatever the conditions, even when it may be inconvenient, putting the needs of others above their own.
As voluntary blood donors come from all walks of life, all regions, backgrounds, religions and ages and by choosing to donate blood of their own free will, without any payment, these individuals perform a ‘heroic’ act and a gesture of human solidarity with the power to save lives.
Speaking to UNI South Asian Association on Transfusion Medicine Secretary General Dr Nabajyoti Choudhury said, ‘Blood transfusion is a life saving procedure and millions of lives are being saved every year by transfusing blood and components.’
He informed that voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) from repeat blood donor is the safest type of blood donation.
‘If we look around for VNRBD among South Asian countries, it is gradually increasing and more stress is needed to improve voluntary blood donation from ‘repeat’ voluntary blood donors,’ he said adding ‘An intra-country cooperation is much needed to improve blood donation in these countries.
‘South Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine is working in this direction to provide safe blood to needy patients in right amount in right patient in right time in a borderless South Asia.’ he said.
According to a WHO statement, each year, a host country is identified for a global event that provides the focus for an international publicity campaign about World Blood Donor Day.
The global event for 2012 will be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, hosted by the Korean Red Cross and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea, it informed.
“The transfusion of blood 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,” a WHO statement announcing World Blood Donor Day 2012 said.
The 2012 theme also resonates widely in relation to other everyday ‘heroes’ – such as fire fighters, police men and women, rescue workers, civic leaders, and ‘champions’ of social causes and community improvement.
“This may provide opportunities for powerful connections of people and stories around World Blood Donor Day. For example, as the world’s attention turns to the London 2012 Olympic Games, blood services, blood donor associations and other institutions will have the opportunity to recruit sporting heroes to advocate for voluntary, unpaid blood donation at local, national or international levels,” the WHO statement announcing this year’s observence maintained.
“In many countries, demand outstrips supply, and blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety,” it said adding “Today, in 62 countries, national blood supplies are based on 100 per cent (or more than 99.9 per cent) voluntary unpaid blood donation.”
However, 40 countries still depend on family donors and even paid donors and collect less than 25 per cent of their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid blood donors, it informed.
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 recognised 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.
A specialised agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health, the WHO also appeals this year that working together for blood donation will help to ensure a wide impact for World Blood Donor Day 2012.
Dr Sangeeta Agarwal from Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon said, “Donating blood is one of the most noble act for a human being as blood is the magic portion which gives life to another person. The gift of Blood is the gift of Life as human blood has no substitute.”
“The requirement of safe blood is increasing and regular voluntary blood donations are vital for blood transfusion,” she added.
International organizations including the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organisations, the International Society of Blood Transfusion, the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals and others continue to work in close collaboration to provide guidance and support to their membership in this endeavour.
(UNI)
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