Donating blood is an act of solidarity

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated around the world on 14 June to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives. The day is also an opportunity to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

This year, the World Blood Donor Day slogan is “Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives”, and aims to draw attention to the roles that voluntary blood donations play in saving lives and enhancing solidarity within communities.

Blood and blood products are essential resources for effective management of women suffering from bleeding associated with pregnancy and childbirth; children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria and malnutrition; patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions; victims of trauma, emergencies, disasters and accidents; as well as patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.

The need for blood is universal, but access to safe blood and safe blood products for all those who need it is not. Shortages of safe blood are particularly acute in many countries in the Western Pacific Region.

Campaign objectives:

• thank blood donors in the world and create wider public awareness of the need for regular, unpaid blood donation;
• highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion;
• recognize and promote the values of voluntary unpaid blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion;
• raise awareness of the need for increased investment from governments to build a sustainable and resilient national blood system and increase collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.

Campaign poster: