World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is celebrated around the world every year on 14th June to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.

WHO, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (FIODS) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) sponsors World Blood Donor Day.

Millions of lives are saved every year by transfusion of blood and blood products in patients suffering from life-threatening conditions, and during complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an important, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during the emergency response to man-made and natural disasters. An adequate supply of blood and blood products can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors.

This year’s theme is “Give blood and keep the world beating”.

The day calls attention to the contribution of blood donors in saving people’s lives and encourages the young generation, especially, to regularly donate blood.

Objectives of the day:

• To be thankful to blood donors and their inspiration to others for the same
• To spread awareness about the need for regular and unpaid blood donation, especially by youth
• To celebrate youth potential in health promotion

Facts on blood donation/ transfusion:

• Around 118.5 million units of donated blood are collected globally every year.
• Voluntary unpaid blood donors are the safest group of donors because the prevalence of blood borne infections is lowest among them.
• Often transfusions are prescribed when simple and safe alternative treatments might be equally effective. An unnecessary transfusion exposes patients to the risk of infections such as HIV and hepatitis and adverse transfusion reactions.
• The shelf- life of donated blood is 35 to 42 days; hence there is constant need to replenish stocks in the blood banks.
• Healthy donors are between the ages of 18 to 65 years.
• A single unit of blood separating into its various components can benefit several patients.
• All donated blood should always be screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion.

National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) is the central body to promote voluntary blood donation, ensure safe blood transfusion, provide infrastructure to blood centres, develop human resource and formulate and implement the blood policy in India. (naco.gov.in/)

eRaktKosh is an initiative to connect, digitize and streamline the work flow of blood banks across the nation. Details about blood availability, nearby blood banks, camp schedule, and registration for blood donation can be seen at eraktkosh.in.

Give blood, save lives, give safely.

World Blood Donor Day 2020

eRaktkosh

Related pages- 

World blood donor day 2017

World Blood Donor Day 2018 

World Blood Donor Day2019

References-

https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/06/14/default-calendar/world-blood-donor-day-2021

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability

http://naco.gov.in/national-blood-transfusion-council-nbtc-0