Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) to commemorate the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, who is credited with distinguishing blood groups. The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.
Following its inception in 2004 the World Blood Donor Day initiative has been aided by the WHO, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and International Society of Blood Transfusion. This global network of partners adds on new collaborative agencies and previous global event hosts. In addition to its founding partners the World Blood Donor Day movement is also aided by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (ADRP), Rotary International, Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The World Blood Donor Day operates under a theme each year focusing on specialized issues related to the cause. The theme for the year 2012 World Blood Donor Day campaign is “Every blood donor is a hero”. This theme is aimed at recognizing our inner potentiality for the heroic by simply being of use to someone in need, by donating blood. The theme recognizes the efforts of countless of silent and unsung blood donators worldwide who are doing their bit in making life easier and better for someone else by giving them the gift of blood. This also echoes the motto of the World Blood Donation Day which is aimed at “celebrating the gift of blood”.
In the present scenario yet another important objective of the World Blood Donor Day is to concentrate on national efforts on bettering the safety and sufficiency of national blood supplies by promoting a significant increase in the number of safe, voluntary non-remunerated blood donors who can donate blood regularly.
World Blood Donor Day Theme
The theme of 2016 was “Blood connect us all”.
The theme of 2015 was “Thank you for saving my life”.
The theme of 2014 was “Safe blood for saving mothers”.
The theme of 2013 was “Give the gift of life: Donate blood.”
The theme of 2012 was “Every blood donor is a hero”.
The theme of 2011 was “More blood, more life”.
The theme of 2010 was “New Blood for the World”.
The theme of 2009 was “achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood
and blood components”.
The theme of 2008 was “Giving blood regularly”.
The theme of 2007 was “Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood”.
The theme of 2006 was “Commitment to Ensure Universal Access to Safe Blood”.
The theme of 2005 was “Celebrating your gift of blood”.
The theme of 2004 was “Blood Saves Lives. Safe Blood Starts With Me ”.
