World Blood Donor Day takes place on 14 June each year to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and highlight the critical contribution made by unpaid, voluntary blood donors.
Blood and blood products are live-saving resources not just for emergencies, accidents and surgical procedures, but also for the management of medical disorders, such as the bleeding associated with pregnancy and childbirth, childhood anaemia, and transfusions for patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune-deficiency conditions.
The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2022 is "Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives." The need for blood is universal, but access to safe blood for everyone who needs it remains a challenge worldwide. Voluntary and unpaid blood donation made regularly can help overcome blood shortages.
Dr Mrinalkumar Ramshankar Sharma from WHO Country Office for India donates blood at Krishnadevi Deviprasad Kejriwal Maternity Hospital Blood Bank in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, on 10 February 2022. Year-round voluntary blood donations are needed to provide sustainable and safe transfusion services to everyone who needs it. (Photo: Nalinikant Ojha/ © WHO India)
For World Blood Donor Day, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has urged states and union territories to raise awareness about need of year-round voluntary and unpaid blood donations to provide sustainable and safe transfusion services to everyone who needs it. Since the shelf-life of collected blood is 35-42 days, regular year-round donation is needed for safe and resilient transfusion services.
As per the press release of MoHFW, states and union territories will be organizing campaigns to raise awareness about voluntary blood donation on 14 June. Blood donor registration can be done on the Aarogya Setu app, which is linked to e-RaktKosh digital platform that serves as a blood centre/laboratory interface. Blood banks in India are required to register on e-RaktKosh, where a blood donation certificate can also be generated and shared with the donor by blood bank following the donation.
Donating blood voluntarily and regularly is selfless act that strengthens communities and supports health systems.
“The need for blood is universal, but access to safe blood for everyone who needs it remains a challenge worldwide. Voluntary, unpaid blood donors who give blood regularly can help overcome blood shortages. Their altruistic donation saves lives, they are heroes. We can all be heroes. I request everyone to donate on World Blood Donor Day and as often as possible through the year,” said Dr Roderico H. Ofrin, World Health Organization Country Representative to India.