World Blood Donor Day 2010

¨New blood for the world¨

Blood transfusion is a vital component of health care. The threat to life due to insufficient blood stocks and the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections calls for a safe and adequate blood supply for all those requiring transfusion. As the need for blood increases globally, young people can make an important contribution by donating blood and by recruiting other young people to become donors.

The Fifty-Eighth World Health Assembly made a unanimous declaration of commitment and support for voluntary blood donation and Resolution WHA58.13 designated World Blood Donor Day as an annual event to be held each year on 14 June. While this day creates awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation and encourages more people to become regular blood donors, it also celebrates and thanks all those who voluntarily donate their blood without any reward.

Announcement Letter

Links

The global theme for 2010 will be - Young Donors, with the slogan "New blood for the world" It hopes that a new generation of idealistic and motivated voluntary unpaid blood donors will form a pool that provides the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life. Youth will, therefore, be the focus of the day.

Recruiting and retaining young donors not only improves the long-term safety and sufficiency of a country’s blood supply, but also promotes safe and healthy lifestyles in them. Young people unable to donate for any reason can volunteer their service as advocates. With young people playing such a valuable role in helping to secure a safe and adequate blood supply, World Blood Donor Day will be a good opportunity for governments, policymakers and blood programmes to thank them.

WBDD Sponsors

The 2010 global event will take place in Barcelona, Spain. It will be hosted by the Spanish and Catalonian Health Care Authorities, the Spanish and Catalonian donor associations and the Spanish Red Cross.

Spanish and Catalonian Health Care Authorities
:: http://www.msc.es
:: http://www.gencat.cat/salut

Spanish and Catalonian Donor Associations
:: http://www.donantesdesangre.net/
:: http://www.donantsdesang.org/
:: Spanish Red Cross

BLOOD TRANSFUSION SAFETY
Blood Transfusion Safety

Documentation centre

	Contact information
	World Health Organization Blood Transfusion Safety Department of Essential Health Technologies (HSS/EHT/BTS) 20 Avenue Appia 1211, Geneva 27 Switzerland Tel: +41 22 791 4660 Fax: +41 22 791 4836 Email: bloodsafety@who.int