Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The theme of this year’s campaign is blood donation as an action of solidarity, under the slogan ‘Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life’. This highlights the fundamental human values of altruism, respect, empathy and kindness which underline and sustain voluntary unpaid blood donation systems.
The Government of Bangladesh along with development partners including WHO, Non-Government Organizations and philanthropic organizations observe the day, acknowledging the contribution of the voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. The event also aims to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
The day is observed at a time when Bangladesh is facing acute shortage of safe blood supply. Compiled reports from blood transfusion centers under public and private sectors revealed that over 600,000units of blood were collected in 2016 against an estimated demand of 800,000. Of the collected blood, only 31 percent comes from voluntary donors. This number is very low, compared to other countries in South-East Asia, such as Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, where the number reaches as high as 95 percent. More than two thirds of blood donations come from relatives and friends of the patients.
Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during the emergency response to man-made and natural disasters.
A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. An adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors. However, in many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
A strong collaboration needs to be built up among the different voluntary blood donor organizations to enhance the movement of voluntary blood donation.