Saturday, June 14, 2014

World Blood Donor's Day - 14th June



Established in: 2004
Date of Observation: 14th June
Organized by: WHO (World Health Organization)
Theme: Safe Blood for Saving Mothers
Slogan: Give Blood for those who Give Life
Host Country: Sri Lanka (Official Website)
Host City: Colombo
Observed by: All members of WHO 
Aim: To obtain 100% blood supplies from voluntary unpaid donors by the year 2020


It is a shocking fact that every single day around 800 mothers die during childbirth or related complications due to lack of blood availability on time. This year WHO aims at creating awareness across the world, to encourage voluntary blood donation to lower down maternity deaths. In about 73 countries across the world still rely on family or paid donors.

Even though 108 million donations take place every year still it is not sufficient to save the mother's who give life to a new born. In low income countries 65% of the blood units are transfused to  
children below 5 yrs of age in contrast to which in high income countries 76% patients getting blood transfusions are above 65 years. An increase of around 9 million donors has been recorded in the span of last 10 years. Even if blood is available maximum mortality rate is due to lack of timely access to it. This year's World's Blood Donor's Day aims at chalking out plans and initiatives to make the blood availability more systematic and planned across the world to bring down the risk in life of mothers. (Source: WHO Factsheets )

Most of the people are apprehensive about donating their blood due to many reasons. It is a very safe procedure where a person is examined and thoroughly questioned in order to determine whether the person is fit enough. Any person over the age of 18 is eligible to be allowed for this purpose. A person who weighs above 45 kg is entitled to a 350 ml and those above 60 kg are 450 ml contribution to someone else's life. The plasma is replaced in the body within 24 hrs and except mild giddiness there are no serious consequences. The person's drop of blood is checked for any blood group, haemoglobin (at least 12 mg required), any sexual disease or other harmful virus that the person may be unaware of. After determining all the above facts the blood transfusion takes place taking all the safety precautions.

The blood is stored in special bags and sent to labs for separation of its various components such as plasma, RBC's etc. Then it is stored under medical supervision in blood banks. A healthy person can donate blood after every 56 days (8 weeks). Platelets required for dengue can be given after every 7 days. We should know that every 2 seconds someone is in need of blood whether it is in pregnancy, anaemia, accident victims, burns treatment, haemophilia, sickle cell disease, thalassaemia and operation theatres.

Giving blood is Giving Gift of Life. By just deciding to go for a donation we may be saving someone taking its last breaths. Voluntary blood donation is the best contribution that we can make towards our society. Some people are of the opinion that even when we donate the blood for free still the medical facilities charge for it, which is actually to compensate its testing, storage and component separation charges which is performed under special care and environment. 

I encourage everyone to donate blood just at least once an year thinking that it could be someone we love who might die due to lack of timely availability of blood. It could have been our mother but we were lucky to be under good supervision. We can never imagine a life without our mothers so let's join hands to help every kid to know and grow under the love and care of his/her mother. 

Here are a few links where we can contact to volunteer as a donor:
  1. Blood Donation Agencies Across The World
  2. Indian Red Cross Society
  3. Blood Bank India
  4. Helpline Number (India) : 07961907766
  5. Blood Donors Android App
  6. Khoondaan.com
  7. IOS App
  8. Windows App
  9. There are also many blood camps organized from time to time in every locality.
  10. We can also walk in to Government hospitals to donate blood as per our own convenience.


RAKT DAAN MAHA DAAN


No comments:

Post a Comment