Blood donation is a noble behavior and human initiative performed by a healthy, sound person to a sick or injured person to help save his life. To that effect, over 107 million donated blood units have been collected from all over the world. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking to make all countries obtain 100% of their blood supplies through the voluntary and free donations by the advent of 2020.
Facts about blood donation:
- Globally, over 108 million blood donations are collected. Almost its half comes from the high-income countries accounting for 18% of the world population. This marks an increase by 25% compared to those collected in 2004 which stood at 80 million blood donations..
- In the low-income countries, up to 65% of blood transfusions are given to children under 5 years of age. On the other hand, patients at the age of 65 and over in the high-income countries form a group to which the blood is often transfused. Such a group makes up 76% of all blood transfusion processes.
- The blood donation rate stands at 38.6 per 1,000 persons in the high-income countries, 11.7 ones in the medium-income countries and 3.9 ones in the low-income countries.
- An increase of 8, 6 million blood donations was recorded from 2004 to 2012 by voluntary and paid donors. Similarly, there are 73 countries collecting a percentage more than 90% of their blood supplies through voluntary blood donors for free. On the other hand, 72 countries gather more than 50% of their blood supplies through the family members or paid blood donors.
Internationally Approved Date: June 14th, 2015
Locally Approved Date : Shaban 27th, 1436 H
Theme of the World Blood Donor Day 2015: Thank you for saving my life
Logo:
Targeted Groups:
The youth.
Those experiencing different accidents.
Those undergoing major surgical operations.
Those with blood cancer or other types of cancer.
Those with genetic blood diseases such as anemia, sickle-cell anemia and Thalassemia.
Those working in the medical field including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health educators.
Those working in the education field including teachers, social workers and others.
Health decision makers.
Medical organizations and bodies.
Main Health messages:
The objectives of this year's campaign are summed as following:-
- Extending thanks to the blood donors for their life-saving donations.
- Encouraging voluntary and unpaid donation.
- Boosting the behaviors urging on reducing the risks, in order for individuals to protect their health and donate safe blood.
- Having the Ministry of Health (MOH)Achieve self-sufficiency in terms of the safe blood and safe blood products , and depending on the voluntary and free blood donations by 100%.