World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14 each year in the different countries of the world. The main purpose of this day is to create awareness about blood donation and urge people to donate blood regularly for humanity.
On this day, people all over the world voluntarily donate their blood to support and spread awareness about blood donation.
World Blood Donor Day History
World Blood Donor Day was first organised in 2005. It was a joint initiative by the Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products. The day also celebrates and appreciates blood donors for their voluntary blood donations.
International Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize awardee who discovered the ABO blood group system.
There are different meanings for World Blood Donor Day, and some of the main motivators behind this day are as follows:
- As the number of deaths from blood diseases increases, we need more and more blood donors.
- Many people have already participated in this initiative, which will help in increasing the number of people who will donate their blood to save other lives.
World Blood Donor Day Significance
There are three reasons behind International Blood Donor Day -
- It encourages people to donate blood regularly for humanity.
- It creates awareness about donating blood as a voluntary act; and also assists in increasing trust between the public and volunteers.
- It provides information about how we can save lives through blood donation.
Moreover, this day is celebrated to mark the occasion of the first blood transfusion of human Significance of World Blood Donor Day. Blood donated is used to save the lives of people who are treated for sickle cell anaemia and other blood-related diseases.
In addition, it also promotes the trust between donors and volunteers and provides information about how one can donate blood for life-saving purposes.
Different Types of Blood
There are different types of blood, and each type has a different role in saving the lives of people:
- Type-O Blood - This type is known as the universal donor. It means that it can be donated to a patient by anyone
- Type AB - People having this type of blood are known as universal recipients because they can receive blood from all other types without any problem or doubt
- Type-A - This blood can be donated to patients only with type A blood and is known as a directed donor
- Type B - People having this type of blood are known as directed recipients because they can receive blood from all other types without any problem or doubt, but they cannot donate it to patients of all other types
- Type O-Negative - This kind of blood is very rare to get and hence is also known as the rare donor
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World Blood Donor Day Themes
Year | Theme |
2012 | Every blood donor is a hero |
2013 | Give the gift of life: donate blood |
2014 | Safe blood for saving mothers |
2015 | Thank you for saving my life |
2016 | Blood connects us all |
2017 | Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often |
2018 | Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life |
2019 | Safe Blood for All |
2020 | Safe Blood Saves Lives |
2021 | Give blood and keep the world-beating |
International Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14 as a part of the official list of eleven global public health campaigns by the World Health Organization. It is observed to encourage people to donate blood and spread awareness about it.
FAQs on World Blood Donor Day
Q.1. What is World Blood Donor Day?
World Blood Donor Day is a joint initiative by the Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross to raise awareness about safe blood and blood products.
Q.2. When is World Blood Donor Day celebrated?
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14.
Q.3. Why is World Blood Donor Day celebrated?
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated to create awareness about voluntary blood donation and urge people to donate their blood regularly for humanity.
Q.4. What is the significance of World Blood Donor Day?
World Blood Donor Day promotes blood donation as a voluntary act. It aims at encouraging people to donate blood regularly for humanity. It also creates awareness about donating blood as a voluntary act in different countries.
Q.5. What campaign by the WHO is World Blood Donor Day a part of?
World Blood Donor Day is a part of the official list of eleven global public health campaigns by the World Health Organization.