Today is World Blood Donor Day
. This vital fluid is essential for surgeries, accident victims, people battling illnesses, and many other situations.But blood doesn't magically appear in hospitals. It comes from everyday people like us, who choose to make a life-saving contribution. Donating blood is a safe and relatively simple process, and the benefits extend far beyond the recipient. That is why World Blood Donor Day is celebrated to honour people who donate blood. W
World Blood Donor Day has a relatively recent history, but it stems from a scientific breakthrough that revolutionized medicine. Here's a breakdown:
The Foundation: The discovery of the blood group system by Karl Landsteiner laid the groundwork for safe blood transfusions. This Austrian physician, who is celebrated on World Blood Donor Day, is considered the "founder" of modern blood transfusion
The Day is Born: To honor Landsteiner's contribution and raise awareness about the importance of blood donation, four major organisations joined forces. In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the first World Blood Donor Day.
WHO mentions: “The first World Blood Donor Day was observed in 2004, which was followed by its designation as an annual global event by the fifty-eighth World Health Assembly in 2005. World Blood Donor Day is now celebrated each year throughout the world on 14 June to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation and to recognize the contribution of voluntary unpaid blood donors in saving lives and improving health.”
The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2024 is: "20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!"
This theme highlights two key aspects Appreciation for Blood Donors: For the past two decades, World Blood Donor Day has served as a platform to express immense gratitude to voluntary blood donors. Their selfless act of giving blood has saved countless lives and continues to be the backbone of a safe and secure blood supply.
- A Milestone Year: 2024 marks 20 years of raising awareness and promoting blood donation. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and celebrate the dedication of blood donors, blood centres, and organisations working tirelessly in this field.
WHO mentions: “On World Blood Donor Day, celebrated on 14 June 2024, WHO, its partners and communities across the world will unite behind the theme: 20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!”
“The 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day is an excellent and timely opportunity to thank blood donors across the world for their life-saving donations over the years and honour the profound impact on both patients and donors. It is also a timely moment to address continued challenges, and accelerate progress towards a future where safe blood transfusion is universally accessible,” it adds
