World Blood Donor Day June 14, 2018

World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is celebrated around the world every year on 14^th 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.

The slogan of this year’s campaign is “Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life”. The host country for World Blood Donor Day 2018 is Greece, through the Hellenic National Blood Centre .The theme of this year’s WBDD draws attention to the roles that voluntary donation systems play in encouraging people to care for one another and generate social ties and a united community.

Voluntary unpaid blood donor is a person who gives blood, plasma or other blood components of his/her own free will and receives no payment for it, either in the form of cash or in-kind which could be considered a substitute for money.

Voluntary, unpaid blood donors from low-risk populations are the safest blood donors and these donors can maintain a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products. A person can donate blood either in a licensed blood bank, blood donation camps or at a blood mobile.

Facts on blood donation/ transfusion:

• Around 112.5 million units of donated blood are collected globally every year, however, many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood and blood products.
• Voluntary unpaid blood donors are the foundation of a safe, sustainable blood supply and account for 100% of blood supplies in 62 countries.
• 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 age 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.

Every few seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood. Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life.

Related page- World blood donor day 2017

References-

who.int/bloodsafety/voluntary_

who.int/features/factfiles/

naco.gov.in/