World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day History

World Blood Donor Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and to express gratitude to voluntary blood donors worldwide. The observance seeks to emphasize the need for a stable supply of blood and blood products, as well as to highlight their crucial role in saving lives and improving the health of millions of people. The event also aspires to encourage more people to join the ranks of blood donors, thereby ensuring universal access to safe and quality blood transfusion services.

Established in 2004, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated globally on June 14 in honour of the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, the Austrian physician who discovered the ABO blood group system. In India, the event is of significant importance as millions of lives are saved every year, thanks to the contributions of voluntary blood donors. The country requires about 12 million units of blood annually to meet the needs of patients, but out of this requirement, only about 9.5 million units are collected. Consequently, World Blood Donor Day forms a crucial platform to address the persistent blood shortage and to promote awareness about safe blood donation practices across the nation.

To mark the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, various awareness campaigns and blood donation drives are organized across India by government institutions, non-profit organizations, and blood banks. These initiatives aim to educate people about the benefits of blood donation, both for the donor and the recipient, and to dispel myths and concerns surrounding the process. The widespread participation of the Indian population in such activities has the potential to significantly boost the nation's blood reserve, and to enable timely and effective medical care to those in need. World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on June 14th.

Top facts about World Blood Donor Day

• According to the WHO, in 2023, 120 million blood donations were collected globally. The host country for World Blood Donor Day in 2023 was Algeria.
  According to the WHO, in 2022, there were 118.5 million blood donations collected globally.
• The theme for World Blood Donor Day in 2023 was Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.
  In 2022, the theme was Donating blood is an act of solidarity.
• As per a WHO report, the blood donation rate in India is 7.8 per 1,000 population, which is lower than the global average of 13.2.
• The blood donation system in India comprises both public (government) and private blood banks. Public blood banks cater to 60-70% of the total blood demand in urban areas and almost 100% in rural regions.

In the News and Trending in India for World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day Top Things to Do

• Give the gift of life. If you are an eligible donor, you can donate blood at many centres throughout your city or country. Search online to find your nearest centre.
• Find out what blood type you are! There are 8 types, with AB being the rarest (only 4% of the world population has it) and either a positive or a negative factor (the negative being the recessive and more rare factor).
• Contact local blood banks and offer your assistance as a volunteer. Help with administrative tasks, greet donors, and provide support during blood collection events.
• Take the opportunity to thank individuals who have donated blood. Organize appreciation events or create certificates to acknowledge their contribution to society.