Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated around the world on 14 June to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives. The day is also an opportunity to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
This year, the World Blood Donor Day slogan is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products so that all patients can receive timely treatments.
The need for blood is universal, but access to blood is not. In many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. Lack access to safe blood and blood products – especially in low- and middle-income countries, impacts on all patients, including those requiring regular transfusion.
Every single blood donation is a precious lifesaving gift and repeat donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable blood supply. Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.
Campaign objectives:
- celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to become new donors;
- encourage people in good health to donate blood regularly, as often as is safe and possible, to transform the quality of life for transfusion dependent patients and help to build a secure blood supply in all countries in the world;
- highlight the critical roles of voluntary non-remunerated regular blood and plasma donations in achieving universal access to safe blood products for all populations; and
- mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.