World Blood Donor Day on June 14

The day will kick-off a campaign titled 'Blood, a gift for life' in Johannesburg, South Africa, said a World Health Organisation press release yesterday.

The purpose of the day is to thank the blood donors around the world for their invaluable contribution to their communities and to encourage new generation of voluntary donors to give their blood regularly.

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A sufficient supply of safe blood is one of the cornerstones of a good healthcare system and a powerful tool for preventing the transmission of disease.

But most of the countries in the world experience a shortage of blood in their hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Any shortage of blood has a particular impact on children with severe life-threatening anemia caused by malaria and malnutrition, trauma victims and women with complications of pregnancy.

Besides, unsafe blood can transmit HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, chagas disease and malaria.

The main launch of World Blood Donor Day will be held in Johannesburg in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the South African National Blood Service.

The day will be celebrated with music and other entertainment programmes. It will also honour a South African group of young regular blood donors called Club 25.

Similar events and activities will be organised across the world as part of a global celebration.

The events of World Blood Donor Day are being supported by the collaborative efforts of four international organisations working for the provision of safe blood globally through the promotion of voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation.

These are World Health Organisation, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Federation of Blood Donor Organisations and International Society of Blood Transfusion.