world Blood Donor Day2019

World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is celebrated around the world every year on 14th June to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.

WHO, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (FIODS) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) sponsors World Blood Donor Day.

Millions of lives are saved every year by transfusion of blood and blood products in patients suffering from life-threatening conditions, and during complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an important, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during the emergency response to man-made and natural disasters. An adequate supply of blood and blood products can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors.

The slogan of this year’s campaign is ‘’Safe blood for all’’.The host country for World Blood Donor Day 2019 is Rwanda.

This theme focuses on universal access to safe blood transfusions in health care so as to achieve universal health coverage. The theme also encourages more people to donate blood regularly to meet the needs of patients.

his goal can only be achieved when all governments, national health authorities and national blood services provide adequate resources in addition to needed system and infrastructure to increase blood collection from donors.These resources must also have systems of oversight and surveillance.

Objectives of campaign:

to celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet started donating;
to highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion;
to focus attention on donor health and the quality of donor care as critical factors in building donor commitment and a willingness to donate regularly;
to demonstrate the need for universal access to safe blood transfusion and provide advocacy on its role in the provision of effective health care and in achieving the goal of universal health coverage;
to mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.

Facts on blood donation/ transfusion:

Around 112.5 million units of donated blood are collected globally every year, however, many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood and blood products.
Voluntary unpaid blood donors are the foundation of a safe, sustainable blood supply and account for 100% of blood supplies in 62 countries.
Voluntary unpaid blood donors are the safest group of donors because the prevalence of blood borne infections is lowest among them.
Often transfusions are prescribed when simple and safe alternative treatments might be equally effective. An unnecessary transfusion exposes patients to the risk of infections such as HIV and hepatitis and adverse transfusion reactions.
The shelf- life of donated blood is 35 to 42 days; hence there is constant need to replenish stocks in the blood banks.
Healthy donors are between the age of 18 to 65 years.
A single unit of blood separating into its various components can benefit several patients.
All donated blood should always be screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion.

National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) is the central body to promote voluntary blood donation, ensure safe blood transfusion, provide infrastructure to blood centres, develop human resource and formulate and implement the blood policy in India. (naco.gov.in/)

eRaktKosh is an initiative to connect, digitize and streamline the work flow of blood banks across the nation. Details about blood availability, nearby blood banks, camp schedule, and registration for blood donation can be seen at eraktkosh.in.

Every few seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood. Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life.

World Blood Donor Day 2018

References-

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2019/about_

who.int/features/factfiles/

http://naco.gov.in/national-blood-transfusion-council-nbtc-0