World Blood Donor Day

Dr. Dipak Nath, PhD
The World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14 every year with the objective to celebrate the donors and also to raise awareness about blood donation. Every year on June 14, organizations all around the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day. An event that raises awareness on the importance of what donating blood means to the health industry, as the range of uses is way more diverse than anyone thinks. The day is celebrated to raise awareness on the importance of “safe blood” for various medical transfusions and to honor the donors for giving their blood and saving many valuable lives. The day also provides an opportunity to call to action to Governments and National health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructure to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.
 “Give blood and keep the world-beating” being the theme for World Blood Donor Day 2021, its main focus is to highlight the contribution of donors around the globe and appreciating their selfless act.
Following the success of World Health Day in the year 2000, which focused on blood donation and the safety of transfusions, Ministers of Health from all across the world made a unanimous declaration in May 2005, during the 58th World Health Assembly, to designate World Blood Donor Day as an annual event held every June 14, choosing Landsteiner’s birthday to commemorate. World Blood Donor Day also aims to celebrate the hard work of medical professionals that work in the research and development for new technology and uses for donated blood, as well as medical teams who use blood on a regular basis. This day is also used to thank donors for their service and determination to save lives and make the world a better place.
 Blood donation is a significant thing in saving a person’s life; from plasma treatments to research and emergency uses, blood donation plays a major role. Not only doctors, but every individual can also save others’ lives by donating blood, and those who are saving others’ lives are equal to God. Blood donation is an opportunity for everyone to be a God. Many lives are ending because of inadequate blood. To stop this and to save lives, blood donation is important. It supports a wide variety of medical needs like surgeries.
Blood donation does not only save other’s life; actually, blood donation has dual benefits; one is you can save the other person’s life, and another one is it benefits the donor. Many studies have proven that blood donation reduces cancer risk and hemochromatosis and reduces the risk of damage to the liver and pancreas. It will also help to promote the cardiovascular health and helps in weight control. Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are a critical aspect of care and public health. They save millions of lives and improve the health and quality of life of many patients every day. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not. Blood shortages are particularly acute in developing countries.
 To ensure that everyone who needs safe blood has access to it, all countries need voluntary, unpaid donors who give blood regularly.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, despite limited mobility and other challenges, blood donors in many countries have continued to donate blood and plasma to patients who need transfusion.  This extraordinary effort during a time of unprecedented crisis highlights the crucial role of well-organized, committed voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors in ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply during normal and emergency times.
Blood donation does not just help save other people but it also helps the donor in several ways. By helping other people, some feel less stressed which helps with their emotional well-being. Donating blood also creates a sense of goodwill in people, which makes them happy and fruitful. Most importantly, the donated blood can help save somebody’s life. There are no severe side effects from donating blood. Just make sure that you are donating to a trusted health care facility with proper and sanitized equipment.
The slogan for the World Blood Donor Day, 2021 is “Give blood and keep the world beating”. The message highlights the essential contribution blood donors make to keeping the world pulsating by saving lives and improving others’ health. It reinforces the global call for more people all over the world to donate blood regularly and contribute to better health.
A special focus of this year’s campaign is the role of young people in ensuring a safe blood supply. In many countries, young people have been at the forefront of activities and initiatives aimed at achieving safe blood supplies through voluntary, non-remunerated blood donations. Young people form a large sector of the population in many societies and are generally full of idealism, enthusiasm and creativity. The specific objectives of this year’s campaign are to thank blood donors in the world and create wider public awareness of the need for regular, unpaid blood donation; promote the community values of blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion; encourage youth to embrace the humanitarian call to donate blood and inspire others to do the same; celebrate the potential of youth as partners in promoting health.
Italy will host World Blood Donor Day, 2021 through its National Blood Centre. The global event is going to held in Rome on 14 June 2021.
How to celebrate the day: Donate Blood- You need only one hour (maximum) to participate in this life-saving activity. If you are eligible, then donate your blood and start to save a life; Create Awareness- If you are not eligible for blood donation or if you do not have time for blood donation, do not worry.
You can still have the chance to save other’s life. Create awareness about the day, impact, and importance of blood donation to your friends, neighbors, colleagues, family members and even to your social media followers. Because many people are not aware of the importance of blood donation and they do not know how easy it is to spread words and make future donors; Find an event near you- Search online and find an event near you regarding World Blood Donor Day. Many hospitals, blood centers and volunteers set up special fun events (like rallies) for World Blood Donor Day, find where it is happening, and be a part of it.
One’s involvement and support will help to ensure greater impact for World Blood Donor Day 2021, increasing recognition worldwide that giving blood is a life-saving act of solidarity and those services providing safe blood and blood products are an essential element of every health care system. This not only helps people but helps build cohesion in society to take part in many selfless acts like this.
Let us all be responsible adults and donate blood to commemorate World Blood Donor Day, 2021.
The writer is Dy. Director of Extension Education, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipu