World Blood Donor Day

World Health Organization (WHO) had chosen 14^th June as World Blood Donor Day to recognize and appreciate millions of blood donors who save lives!

World Blood Donor Day

Quiz on Blood Donation
As there is no substitute for human blood, Blood donation is one of the noblest of human actions; a simple gesture to help a needy stranger. If you have any apprehensions or queries on the facts of blood donation, take our Blood Donation quiz; empower yourself with the necessary information, and save a life!

World Blood Donor Day is jointly coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) and the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFODS).

Plenty of networking and campaigning events are the hall mark of the Day, world wide, as an effort to highlight the need to donate blood on a regular basis to replenish the depleting supply in hospitals, particularly in the developing countries.

It hopes to highlight the effort taken by health systems and policy-makers to make blood transfusions accessible and safe for all.

Hemophilia - Causes - Treatment - Genetic Testing - Support Groups
Hemophilia is a rare single gene, X- linked disorder, which tends to run in families.

There is also an effort to identify healthy regular blood donors, and make them role models of health, to motivate others to become blood donors.

Theme

Slide Animation on 'Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Blood donation'
Slide animation providing comprehensive explanation about Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Blood Donation.

The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2011 is "More Blood. More Life".

Out of the 80 nations with fewer than 10 donations per thousand people (low blood donation rates), 79 are developing nations.

Thalassemia - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Future Therapies
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder passed on through parental genes causing the body to produce abnormal hemoglobin.

This theme focuses on the urgent need for lot more people worldwide to become volunteer blood donors and save more lives.

Importance of Blood Donation

Blood transfusion is required for the following people --

• Surgical patients especially those with cancer
• Accident trauma patients
• Women with pregnancy-related complications such as hemorrhage and ectopic pregnancies
• Children with severe forms of anemia requiring blood transfusions
• People with conditions such as thalassaemia, sickle cell disease or haemophilia

Why demand for blood?

There is a constant need for regular blood supply because blood can be stored for only a limited period of time.

Due to its low shelf life there is a constant demand for blood, which is not matched by its supply.

Regular blood donations by adequate number of healthy donors are needed to ensure a regular stock of safe blood, whenever and wherever it is required.

Gift of Blood –Gift of Life

Blood is a precious gift that one can give another. It is a gift of life.

Paint the town red; become a blood donor - save lives!

Source-Medindia

World Blood Donor Day - 2011