World Blood Donor Day

Sagnik Nag, Amity University, Kolkata

The history of blood donation goes back further than you would possibly expect. World Blood Donor Day (commonly abbreviated as WBDD) is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, who was born on 14 June 1868. He was awarded the honor in 1930 for his discovery of the ABO blood type system, the widely accepted system of classification of ABO blood grouping.

Purpose and Theme of World Blood Donor Day:

World Blood Donor Day is dedicated every year on June 14 to heighten the perception of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the significant contribution voluntary, unpaid blood benefactors make to national health operations. The event is a collaborative initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The global theme of WBDD 2021 is “Celebrating the gift of blood”.

The first aim is increasing recognition worldwide that giving blood could be a life-saving act of solidarity in which services providing safe blood and blood products is a necessary element of each health care system. The day also provides a chance to call to action to governments and national health authorities to supply adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructures to extend the collection of blood from the spontaneous voluntary blood donors. This day is also commemorated to thank donors for their services and determination to save lots of lives and make the planet a stronger place.

The importance of blood donation:

 For an ailing patient, blood is nothing but red gold. Access to blood is often a matter of life or death for people who have faced an accident resulting in excessive blood loss or require it for his or her medical treatment. The distinguished statute of blood donation can save lives. Hence, it’s a practice that organizations worldwide spread awareness about, and other people are encouraged to revolution to become donors as an indication of humanity. The necessity for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those that need it’s not. Blood deficits are particularly acute in developing nations.

Previously blood transfusions became a conventional medical practice, lives were annually lost as a consequence of an inadequate blood supply. Blood donations end up benefiting a wide diversity of medical necessities, from pre-planned, trivial procedures to emergency surgeries. Blood transfusions are a crucial fraction of the planned medication of cancer patients or expecting mothers, as well as significant in case of emergencies or car hits. Donating blood is a rapid, manageable, and extremely safe technique, but only a small subsection of the community are regular blood donors. Blood donation being an entirely voluntary process, World Blood Donor Day is a crucial indicator of how there can never be such a thing as “too many blood donations.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pestilence, despite limited mobility and additional challenges, blood donors in many nations have persistently donated blood and plasma to patients who desire a transfusion.  This tremendous endeavor during a time of unprecedented catastrophe highlights the significant role of well-organized, committed voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors in confirming a stable and adequate blood supply during ordinary and emergency times. The promising way to commemorate World Blood Donor Day is to go out and give blood! There’s an influential necessity for the blood of all types, and there’s barely enough of it to go around. Just a solitary contribution now and then will help protect lives.

Also read: Does no chest pain mean no heart attack?

References:

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/06/14/default-calendar/world-blood-donor-day-2021
2. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day

• The Corrosion Prediction from the Corrosion Product Performance
• Nitrogen Resilience in Waterlogged Soybean plants
• Cell Senescence in Type II Diabetes: Therapeutic Potential
• Transgene-Free Canker-Resistant Citrus sinensis with Cas12/RNP
• AI Literacy in Early Childhood Education: Challenges and Opportunities