World Blood Donor Day 2017: What Can You Do?

Highlights:

Blood is an essential resource and an important component of an effective health system.
The World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14th June every year to raise awareness about the need for blood donation and also to thank donors who donate blood in order to save lives.
This year the World Blood Donor Day campaign mainly focuses on donating blood for emergency crisis.
The World Blood Donor Day is observed all over the world on 14th June each year. The day is commemorated to raise awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products and also to thank blood donors who donate their blood in order to save lives.

Blood is an essential resource that could help patients to live longer in life-threatening conditions. Blood, is also needed to treat wounds during emergencies. Blood service is an important component of an effective health system.

Blood Donor Campaign 2017

Millions of lives are affected every year due to emergencies. More than 1 million deaths and 250 million people are affected by emergencies every year in the last decade.

The slogan for this year’s campaign:

What can you do?

Give blood. Give now. Give often.

Health Benefits and Side Effects of Blood Donation
Blood donation does not have any major side effects, but there are several benefits. Blood donation improves heart health, reduces cancer risk and burns calories.

‘Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often - Engage in voluntary unpaid blood donations so that the blood stock is sufficient to face an emergency crisis.’

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The campaign mainly focuses on donating blood for emergency crisis. It mainly tends to highlight the need of donating blood regularly so that the blood stock is sufficient in the event of an emergency.

The host country for this year’s global event on 14th June is Vietnam through the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT).

Objectives of the Blood Donation Campaign

Encourage people to strengthen preparation for health services in the country by donating blood.
Engage in authorities to establish effective national blood donor programs to respond properly to increasing blood demand during emergencies.
Promote the inclusion of blood transfusion services in emergency preparedness and response activities.
To build a wider awareness of the need for year-round blood donation to maintain adequate supplies and achieve national self-sufficiency of blood.
To thank individuals who donate blood regularly and to encourage young people to become new donors.
To promote international collaboration and to ensure worldwide dissemination on the principles of voluntary unpaid donation while increasing blood safety and availability.

To know more about the importance of blood donation, Medindia spoke to Dr. Rajeev Nikte, who is the Head of the Blood bank department at Global Hospitals, Mumbai.

Medindia: Is blood donation generally on paid or voluntary basis?

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!

Dr Nikte: Blood donations should be 100% voluntary and paid donations are illegal.

Medindia: How can we encourage people to donate blood?

Blood Donation Due Date Calculator
Are you a blood donor? If yes use our online calculator to find out when you can donate blood again.

Dr Nikte: Blood donation awareness is mainly required among the younger generation. One of the objectives for Blood Donor's Day this year, is creating awareness during emergency situations. There are people who donate blood regularly, but more people should get involved in donating blood for the purpose of emergency preparedness. It is very important that blood is collected, separated and kept ready for use before a crisis. So, blood donation is mainly to save lives, during the time of disaster to prevent shortage. Therefore, regular blood donations could save lives, as well as prevent shortage in emergency crisis.

Medindia: What is your message on this World Blood Donor’s Day?

World Blood Donor Day 2016: Blood Connects Us All; Share Life, Give Blood
World blood donor day is celebrated on the 14th June every year. The theme for the World Blood Donor Day 2016 is “Blood Connects Us All”.

Dr Nikte: The Blood Donor’s Day is mainly about motivation and retaining. People who have never donated blood should be motivated to do so. Likewise, people who have already donated blood should continue doing so, on a regular basis.

So my message would be, If you have not donated earlier, at least donate now. If you are already a regular donor, keep donating.

Facts on Blood Transfusion

Around 112.5 million units of blood that is donated are collected globally every year to save lives and improve health.
Blood transfusions can help to support various treatments.
A stable base of regular, voluntary and unpaid blood donors can produce an adequate and reliable supply of blood.
100% of blood supplies in 57 countries are collected from voluntary unpaid donors.
The annual blood donations per center in high-income countries is 15, 000 when compared to only 3100 in the middle- and low-income countries.
Donated blood should always be screened for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis.
A single unit of blood can be separated into different components to benefit several patients.

An adequate supply of blood during emergencies require a well-organized blood service. Engaging the entire community in voluntary unpaid blood donations throughout the year can save the day during an emergency situation.

References:

World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2017 - ( http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2017/event/en/)
World Blood Donor Day 2017 - (http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2017/en/)
10 facts on blood transfusion - (http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/blood_transfusion/en/)

Source-Medindia