10 Interesting Facts about World Blood Day

Transfusion of blood and blood products help save and improve life and health of people worldwide every year. It helps and support complex medical conditions improving health of patients suffering from life threatening circumstances. Various patients however do not get timely admission of safe blood. The shortage of blood can only be reduced by regular unpaid blood donation.

In the world today about 62 countries only have 100% blood supply from the unrewarded voluntary blood donors. With around 40 countries depending on the paid or family donors. Every year around 92 million units of blood is collected internationally from voluntary blood donations. Eachyear the countries celebrate world blood donor day on 14 June to raise awareness and thank the voluntary unpaid donors.

The occurrence of blood borne infections is low among the voluntary blood donors which is the safe group. WHO encourages people both from urban or rural areas to continue donating blood and the young people who are in good health are encourage to begin doing so. The goal of every country is to obtain their blood supplies from voluntary blood contribution.

This year the world marks the 10^th anniversary of the word blood donation. Blood donated acts like a gift that saves life and help individuals live longer and more industrious lives. The objective of this year campaign is to recognize and thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. The silent and unrecognized heroes are those people who save lives every day.

10. Other Focuses

Photo Source: http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/newsletter/92/newsletter_en.htm

The major intention of the World Blood Donor Day is to encourage more people to donate blood. It focuses on the countries to increase the safety supply of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors. Where emphasize is put on individuals to be regular blood donors. Convince ministries of health to commit in achieving self-sufficiency in safe blood based on the 100% voluntary non-compensated blood donations

9. Facts supported by figures

Photo Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/

Only 62 countries get 100% of the national blood supplies from the unpaid voluntary blood donors. The basic blood requirements a country is supposed to meet requires only 1%of its population. Statistics collected show that 92 million units of blood donated are collected internationally from voluntary donors.

8. Primary Intention

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The main aim of World Blood Day is to provide a chance for the world to bond in volunteerism and harmony globally and not to replace national blood days. To create awareness for the responsibilities people are supposed to fulfil in saving and improving lives. Put educational programs and operations to support blood transfusion services for long term. Encourage people to enroll as voluntary blood donors.

7. Four core Agencies that Support World Blood Day

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The four core agencies are the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion. The establishment includes 193 WHO member countries, 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, with more than 60 national blood donor organization and over 3000 blood transfusion specialists. The World Blood Donor Day movement is supported by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) with others like the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (ADRP),Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also in the list is United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),World Council of Churches (WCC) and Rotary International.

6. Yearly Theme

Photo Source: http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2013/posters/poster_large.jpg

Each year the World Donor Day operates under different theme which focuses on specialized issues related on blood donation. For example the theme set for the year 2011 is more blood more life.

5. A Day to Say Thank You

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This day takes place on 14 June every year worldwide which also honors birth of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner for discovering the ABO blood group system. The day is devoted to thank and celebrate voluntary unpaid blood donors for their good work of ensuring easy availability of safe blood for transfusion. There are millions of people around the world who are happy to give blood and 14^th of June is set aside to thank them and encourage them to continue doing so.

4. Target to save lives

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It identifies humble blood donors who use some few minutes of their valuable time to donate blood and save lives of thousands of people worldwide in every year. The blood collected from donations help patients who are suffering from dangerous conditions live a higher quality and longer life. It also very important for playing a role in both perinatal and maternal care, and supports surgical and the complex medical procedures. It acknowledge the key role played by the regular, voluntary blood donors in ensuring that safe blood is readily available for patients who may need it.

3. History and Foundation

Photo Source: http://antonk.com/2012/06/17/june-14-on-this-day-history/

In 2004 the World Health Organization and the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies started the world donor day. It takes place on 14^th June every year where an opportunity is provided for the nation and global celebration to take place. This day has another significance as well since it marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner who is a Nobel Prize winner for his discovery of the ABO group system. The national blood transfusion was established in1983, and since then it been supporting research and education of advanced transfusion of blood that benefits patients and donors.

2. A Global Observance

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On world Donor day many events and activities are held globally to increase the awareness and knowledge about the significance of safe blood supplies. It is not a public holiday but instead it’s a worldwide observance. On June 14^th a number of events which are held includes; blood donation clinics, football matches, concerts and many other fun activities.

1. Safe Blood

Photo Source: http://specialforworld.com/2012/06/14/world-blood-donor-day/

In developing countries safe blood supplies are scarce despite the 92 million units of blood donations. The demand of safe blood is increasing every day while the supply does not meet this demand especially in third world countries. For safety blood transfusions the ABO blood group system is used which was created by Karl Landsteiner on 14^th June 1868.