Day: 14th June
Purpose: This day is celebrated to raise awareness about safe transfusion of blood and blood products and also to appreciate the donors for gifting a life to others.
Significance:
Every year on 14th June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event, established in 2004, serves 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.
World Blood Donor Day came into existence in 2004 and is one of the global public health campaigns recognized by WHO. Transfusion of blood and blood products helps in saving life of people suffering from life threatening disease condition and also helps in securing mother and newborn lives.
Blood is required both in emergency conditions and also in certain surgical interventions. Without adequate quantity of blood it is not possible for the patient to survive. This day is celebrated to make people understand the importance of donating blood. Blood donation helps in improving the quality of life and also the survival rate of individuals in chronic disease condition. Supplying safe and adequate quantity of blood to the needy without involving any cost is a tough but not an impossible task. Many countries have achieved the national storage of blood and blood products but a few countries still depend on the family and paid donors for the blood products. It is very difficult to get adequate quantity and quality of blood in certain countries. Natural disasters have a severe impact on the health system of the region. The healthcare centers also get affected as it has to face lot many individuals with little or no supplies. The emergencies as a result of accidents or untimely surgical interventions increases necessity of the hour and meeting such situation requires adequate stored supplies.
The slogan for 2017 was “What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often”.
