Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life.

World Blood Donor Day builds on the success of World Health Day 2000 which was devoted to the theme ‘Be there for somebody. Give Blood, Share Life.’ Every year the country around the world celebrate the World Blood Donor Day. The date June 14 was selected as World Blood Donor Day since it is the anniversary of the birth of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system. This day is also dedicated to raising awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.

In designating one special day each year to celebrate the role of these blood donors in health care around the world, it is hoped that a new generation of blood donors will follow their example, thereby providing the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save a life.

On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, Dr. Surekha Devi A, HOD & Specialist for Haematology & Transfusion Department at Gleneagles Global Hospitals says, “People below the age of 40 years can donate blood 4 times a year with an interval of 3 months (between 2 successful donations). We at GGH encourage and try to motivate healthy young people to donate platelets through a special process called ‘Plateletstheresis’ which is in high demand. In this process, platelets are donated directly and help in preventing life-threatening bleeding in patients during an emergency with low platelets count”.

Dr. Surekha further adds, “Every few seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood- Be there for somebody.  Give Blood and Share Life.”

Millions of people are saved across boundaries due to Transfusion of blood and blood products. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during the emergency response to man-made and natural disasters.

The focus of World Blood Donor Day, which celebrates the gift of blood, is always on voluntary blood donors. it is designed to celebrate and thank those individuals who voluntarily donate their blood without any reward, except the knowledge that they have helped to save lives, particularly those who give blood on a regular basis two, three or more times each year.

The objectives of this year’s campaign

 To celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated blood to start donating

 To raise wider awareness that blood donation is an altruistic action that benefits all of society and that an adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations from voluntary, unpaid blood donors

 To highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, in order to maintain adequate supplies and achieve national self-sufficiency of blood

 To focus attention on blood donation as an expression of community participation in the health system, and the importance of community participation in maintaining sufficient, safe and sustainable blood supplies

 To promote the community values of blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion and in encouraging people to care for one another and build a caring community

 To promote international collaboration and ensure worldwide dissemination of and consensus on the principles of voluntary non-remunerated donation, while increasing blood safety and availability