World Blood Donor Day

Once again comes a day when you can pay tribute to all those donors who by donating their blood have saved numerous lives. It is the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) on 14^th June. This year the theme for the World Blood Donor Day is to put emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supplies through the achievement of “100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components.”

World Blood Donor Day is jointly sponsored by the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Each year a country is identified by these partners to host a global WBDD event that provides a focus for an international media campaign to raise awareness of the critically important role of the voluntary non-remunerated donors in every national health care system. The event also supports the blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs and to reinforce the national and local campaigns. This year, the country selected is Australia. The Australian Government in close association with the Australian Red Cross and Australian Red Cross Blood Service will host this global event on 14^th June 2009.

Some facts that you should be aware of…

• More than 5,36,000 women die every year during pregnancy or childbirth. 99% of them are from the developing countries
• In developing countries, many people die as safe blood is not available, even in many urban health-care facilities
• Nearly 4,00,000 young people under the age of 25 are killed in the road traffic crashes every year and millions more are injured or disabled
• In many countries testing is not reliable because of staff shortages, poor quality test kits, irregular supplies or lack of basic laboratory quality. Also in many countries not all of the donated blood is screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion
• Often transfusions are prescribed when simpler and less expensive treatments might be equally effective. This exposes some patients to the unwanted risk of infections or severe transfusion reactions due to incompatibility of blood groups
• As per statistics, more than 81 million units of blood are collected globally every year. Less 45% of these are donated in developing countries where more than 80% of the world’s population lives. The average blood donation rate is 11 times higher in developed countries than in developing countries
• The demand for blood is increasing and so the blood shortages are common. Every year more blood donors are needed to replace those that are lost every year due to ill health, retirement and relocation

Therefore, it is important for every nation to recognize that safe clinical transfusion practices are fundamental for blood transfusion to be truly life-saving with minimal risk. Also, safe blood transfusion is an essential part of the emergency trauma care systems to minimize death and disability of the injured patients. Every country needs to ensure that blood supplies are sufficient and free from HIV, hepatitis viruses and other chronic infections that can be transmitted through unsafe transfusion.

This day gives us an opportunity to raise awareness on issues related to blood donation and blood transfusion. It is a day to thank all the blood donors and to acknowledge all those volunteers who are responding to a world-wide increase in the demand for donations of blood and blood components. You never know what your fate awaits. Someday it could be you or your dear one who may struggle with the need for blood in an ICU. It is, therefore, necessary to realize and recognize the importance of blood donation.

Donate a part of yourself today to save the lives tomorrow!