World Blood Donor Day: History, Importance and Quotes

Data shows that someone somewhere needs blood every two seconds and one blood donation can save up to three lives. To make people aware of the importance of blood donation, World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is celebrated on 14 June every year. Countries around the world organize events to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and to thank unpaid blood donors for their life-saving donations.

Background of World Blood Donor Day

The World Blood Donor Day was first celebrated in the year 2004. The 58th World Health Assembly held in 2005 then designated World Blood Donor Day is an annual event to be held across the globe. The day of 14 June was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the father of modern blood transfusion. He was the person who discovered and classified blood groups that made it possible for physicians to transfuse blood without endangering a patient’s life.

Importance of Celebrating World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day is one of the most important health-related days that are celebrated across the globe. It provides a springboard for various national and international programes and campaigns related to blood donation, blood safety and blood transfusion services. The main goals behind the worldwide celebration of Blood Donor Day are –

• Creating awareness throughout the world about the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion.
• Thanking the volunteers and unpaid blood donors for their selfless service to humanity.
• Creating awareness about the availability and appropriate use of safe blood and blood products.
• Encouraging people to voluntarily donating blood regularly.
• Providing an opportunity for call-to-action to government and national health authorities for building a hassle-free system for collecting blood from volunteers and making the blood available to those who need it.

Themes of World Blood Donor Day

2021: Give Blood and Keep the World Beating

The theme intends to highlight the contribution of blood donors in saving lives and improving the health of others. Many hearts are pulsating today because someone donated blood for them. We all should donate blood, if we can, to keep someone’s heart beating.

2020: Safe Blood Saves Life

The theme highlights the importance of ‘safe’ blood. If the donated blood is not safe for transfusion, it may increase the risk for the patient.

2019: Safe Blood for All

The theme highlights the need for safe blood for all. The donor must know when to donate and when not to donate blood. Those who are medically unfit for donating blood must refrain from doing so.

2018: Be there for someone else. Give Blood. Share Life

The theme promotes people for donating blood on humanitarian grounds. A blood donor does not only donate blood but she donates life to someone.

2017: What can you do? Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often

The theme promotes people to be regular blood donors. This will be a great service to humanity.

The National Blood Center of Italy is the host for the celebration of World Blood Donor Day 2021. On the 14 of June 2021, the global event for the same will be held in Rome.