World Blood Donor Day 2019: Safe Blood for all!

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated around the world on 14 June. The theme of this year’s campaign is blood donation and universal access to safe blood transfusion, as a component of achieving universal health coverage. The slogan is “Safe blood for all” to raise awareness of the universal need for safe blood in the delivery of health care and the crucial roles that voluntary donations play in achieving the goal of universal health coverage. 

The theme strongly encourages more people all over the world to become blood donors and donate blood regularly – actions which are key to building a strong foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meeting the needs of all patients requiring transfusion.

The objectives of this year’s campaign are:

• to celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated blood to start donating;
• to highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion;
• to focus attention on donor health and the quality of donor care as critical factors in building donor commitment and a willingness to donate regularly;
• to demonstrate the need for universal access to safe blood transfusion and provide advocacy on its role in the provision of effective health care and in achieving the goal of universal health coverage;
• to mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.

National Blood Transfusion Policy-2071

KEY MESSAGE

• The world needs enough safe blood for everyone in need.
• Every few seconds, someone, somewhere, needs blood.
• Transfusions of blood and blood products save millions of lives every year.
• Health is a human right; everyone in the world should have access to safe blood transfusions, when and where they need them.
• Regular blood donations are needed all over the world to ensure individuals and communities have access to safe and quality-assured blood and blood products.
• Everyone who can donate blood should consider making regular voluntary, unpaid donations, so that all countries have adequate blood supplies.
• Ensuring the safety and well-being of blood donors is critical; it helps build commitment to regular donations.
• Access to safe blood and blood product is essential for universal health coverage and a key component of effective health systems.

• Blood and blood products are essential to care for:
  • women with pregnancy and childbirth associated bleeding;
  • children with severe anaemia due to malaria and malnutrition;
  • patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions;
  • people with traumatic injuries in emergencies, disasters and accidents; and
  • patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.

   

• The need for blood and blood products is universal, but access to safe blood and blood products varies greatly across and within countries.
• In many countries, it is challenging for blood services to make sufficient blood and blood products available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.

• Governments, national health authorities and national blood services must work together to:
  • ensure systems and infrastructure are in place to increase collection of blood from voluntary, regular unpaid donors;
  • establish and strengthen quality assurance systems for blood and blood products to ensure safe blood and blood products;
  • provide quality donor care;
  • promote and implement appropriate clinical use of blood; and
  • oversee the whole chain of blood transfusion.

MORE INFORMATION: WHO

Blood Connects us All – World Blood Donor Day

National Blood Transfusion Policy-2071

What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often – World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2017

“Thank you for saving my life”- World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2015