World Blood Donor Day
Preamble
World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is held on 14 June every year as a worldwide celebration to honour and thank those people who donate their blood on a voluntary, unpaid basis to give the most precious gift of all – the Gift of Life. WBDD provides a special opportunity to create public awareness and build a culture of voluntary blood donation. This annual event highlights the unique life-saving role voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors play for their communities. WBDD is also designed to create wider awareness throughout the world about the need for availability, safety and appropriate use of blood and blood products and for many more people to make a commitment to regular voluntary blood donation.
History of WBDD
Based on the experience gained from the celebration of International Blood Donor Day and World Health Day 2000, which focussed on a theme of blood safety, the concept of WBDD was pioneered by four core international organizations- the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) (each a "core agency" and, collectively, the "core agencies"), - in 2003 with a view to jointly sponsoring WBDD on 14 June each year. The first WBDD was held on 14 June 2004.
Goals
The core agencies, where possible and appropriate, wish to collaborate in the following areas:
- Increasing the awareness of WBDD to all countries of the world.
- Promoting and supporting the annual celebration of WBDD.
- Providing advice and guidance to countries in celebrating WBDD.
- Providing the required support to countries in establishing safe blood programmes based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donations.
