On June 14 every year, World Blood Donor Day is observed to raise awareness about the significance of safe blood and blood products for transfusion. In addition to honouring the critical role of unpaid, voluntary blood donors in saving lives, World Blood Donor Day seeks to increase the collection of blood from unpaid, voluntary blood donors. World Blood Donor Day is an opportunity to prompt health authorities and governments to allocate adequate resources to increase blood collection from unpaid, voluntary blood donors. Every day, millions of people are saved by transfusions that utilize safe blood and blood items.
History Of World Blood Donor Day
The ABO blood group system, which was discovered by Karl Landsteiner (June 14, 1868-June 26, 1943), is commemorated on World Blood Donor Day. The WHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies inaugurated World Blood Donor Day on June 14, 2004. It was created to enhance the general public’s understanding of the importance of protecting the blood supply through voluntary, secure donations by healthy individuals. On May 15, 2005, the World Health Assembly unanimously agreed to establish World Blood Donor Day.
Blood shortages are common in low- and middle-income nations, resulting in fatalities. On World Blood Donor Day, the WHO supports national blood transfusion services and blood donor organisations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programmes.
World Blood Donor Day Campaign
The WHO delineates four objectives for this year’s campaign order to thank blood donors around the world, increase public awareness of the importance of voluntary, unpaid blood donation, maintain adequate blood supplies, and provide universal and timely access to safe blood transfusions, as well as honour and publicise the advantages of uncompensated blood donation in fostering community cohesion and social cohesion. Government investment must be increased to establish a strong and durable blood infrastructure, as well as to draw more blood from voluntary non-paid blood donors.
Benefits Of Donating Blood
The Mental Health Foundation claims that helping others can reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, improve physical health, help eliminate negative emotions, and provide a sense of connection and companionship to reduce isolation.
The following are other reasons donating blood is good for your health:
- Reducing the risk of heart attacks and liver disease.
- Blood cell renewal occurs through new cell formation.
- There is a reduced chance of getting hemochromatosis.
- It helps keep you at the right weight.
- Prevents premature ageing.
- Having a lower cholesterol level.