World Blood Donor Day – 14th June 2020
The human body functions smoothly due to the vital fluid called blood. Blood is composed of Red blood cells which carry oxygen to the tissues, White blood cells which fights infections and Platelets, smaller cells that help the blood to clot. Blood is conducted through blood vessels. Now that we know how much of a vital role it plays in the functioning of the human body, it is crucial to preserve them for all medical emergencies.
A healthy person can donate blood three times a year. It does not take much time for the body to reproduce the given blood, and keep up with the functioning of the body. Thank and celebrate such people who donate blood for the well being of others. The United Nations has recognized 14th June every year as The World Blood Donor Day.
History of World Blood Donor Day
World Blood Donor day is celebrated on 14th June every year. This also marks the birth anniversary of the scientist Karl Landsteiner. He was born on 14th June in the year 1868. We commemorate the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner on the World Blood Donor day as a tribute to his discovery of the Blood groups A, B and O.
The world figured out the different blood groups and its work on further investigations on this, only post his discovery. This International Day is used as a platform all over the world to spread awareness on the importance of Blood and Blood product, the need for Blood donation and safe blood transfusions.
World Blood Donor Day is recognized as one of the eight official International public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO) along with other important days. This international day is observed by all member states of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Significance of World Blood Donor Day
Blood plays a crucial role in all medical and surgical procedures. Doctors save a million lives every year by Blood transfusion and blood products. It helps patients suffering from life-threatening illness live longer, and It also provides them with a better quality of life. Blood also plays a life-saving role in perinatal care. Access to sufficient blood can save many who suffer from severe blood loss during accidents, bleeding during childbirth and after childbirth.
Not many people volunteer to donate blood due to lack of awareness or sheer ignorance. The fact that the amount of blood given by them gets regenerated in a matter of a few hours should be a sufficient reason for a healthy person to donate blood.
At the same time, it is also critical that we pay attention to safety during blood collection. Keeping a check on the safety of the Blood donor should be of at most priority. Reserving of safe Blood and Blood products can help save lives.
In many countries, there is a struggle to manage the adequate supply of safe blood and blood services due to lack of donors, and hence it becomes a challenge to make sufficient blood available at all times. Ample blood supply can be ensured, only by regular blood donation by Voluntary blood donors. World Health Organization aims at achieving sufficient Blood supply by the year 2020 with the help of Voluntary unpaid blood donors.
All around the world, around 60 countries manage their national blood supply by Voluntary unpaid blood donors. However, another 70 plus counties still depend on family and friends for Blood donations.
Objective of World Blood Donor Day
- To provide a platform to thank the people who voluntarily donate blood often.
- To encourage individuals who do not donate blood to donate blood regularly.
- To support effect, national blood donor programs and eliminate the dependence on family and friends.
- To discourage paid blood donation, which happens mostly when there is an acute shortage of blood when necessary.
- To educate people about the importance of safe blood transfusions, and how blood products are such life saviours.
- To help blood banks to manage sufficient blood supply.
World Blood Donor Day Celebration
This day all over the world is used to create awareness of donating blood. Encourage people to become voluntary unpaid blood donors by going to the nearby free blood donation campaigns organized by voluntary bodies like NGOs and medical institutes.
Themes recognized by the World Health organization are
- The year 2019: The theme for this year was “ Safe Blood for All”.
The emphasis was on the need for safe blood transfusions and safe blood products.
- The year 2018: The theme for this year was “Be there for someone else. Give blood, share life.”
The emphasis was on how donating blood can be a life saviour. By donating blood, one can save another life and show some care and support to humanity.
- The year 2017: The theme for this year was “Give blood. Give Now. Give Often.”
The emphasis was on donating blood regularly. Especially when there is an emergency act fast, donate blood and share life.
- The year 2016: The theme for this year was “Blood connects us all.”
The emphasis was on notions of sharing and connection between the donor and the receiver. This year’s campaign brought to light the stories of blood donors and how they were able to bring about a life-saving change to the receiver. These campaigns and journals were also to encourage more people to donate blood with real-life examples.
- The year 2015: The theme for this year was “Thank you for saving my life.”
This year’s campaigns were organized with the slogan “Give freely, give often”
- The year 2014: The theme for this year was ” Safe blood for mothers.”
The emphasis was on how adequate and timely blood supply can save the lives of the women who suffer from excessive bleeding during delivery of the child and sometimes also after childbirth.
- The year 2013: The theme for this year was ” Give the gift of life: donate blood.”
- The year 2012: The theme for this year was “Every blood donor is a hero.”
All of us need to understand how critical and essential blood donation is. We have to volunteer and donate blood as often as possible. It sure will be a life-changing experience when you see how much of a difference you made in someone’s life by donating blood. Every Blood donor is a HERO.
Let’s donate blood and become HERO’s in real!
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