On World Blood Donor Day (14 June), the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific urges more people to donate blood voluntarily and regularly. The event serves both to thank blood donors and raise awareness of the need for more regular blood donors to ensure quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for those in need.
"Many people owe their lives to selfless blood donors," said WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo. "Voluntary blood donors come from all walks of life, but they share a common concern for the welfare of others. We thank them for their admirable generosity and concern for those in need."
Safe blood saves lives
Blood transfusion is a unique technology that blends science with altruism. Though its collection, processing and use are technical, the availability of blood depends entirely on the generosity of the donor who gives a gift of life.
A single unit of donated blood can save up to three lives. Blood transfusions can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer with better quality of life. Blood and blood products also have an essential, life-saving role in the care of mothers and young children. Globally, an estimated 289 000 women died in 2013 due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Of those deaths, 27% were due to severe bleeding.
The safest blood donors are voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors from low-risk populations, because they are motivated by altruism, a sense of moral duty or by social responsibility. The only rewards they receive are personal satisfaction, self-esteem and pride.
WHO's goal is for all countries to obtain all their blood supplies from 100% voluntary unpaid donors by 2020. In the Western Pacific Region, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Niue, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Tokelau and Tuvalu have all achieved 100% voluntary unpaid blood donation.
WHO response
"WHO is committed to work closely with partners and stakeholders to make universal access to safe blood a reality," said Dr Shin.
Universal access to safe blood transfusion requires improved implementation of key strategies for safe and sufficient blood supply, to ensure that all blood is voluntarily donated and to ensure quality testing of all donated blood.
WHO recommends that all donated blood be screened for infections before use according to the quality system requirements. Screening should be mandatory for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis.
The risk of transmission of serious infections, including HIV and hepatitis, through unsafe blood has brought global attention to the importance of blood safety and availability.
WHO's strategy for blood safety and availability addresses five key areas:
- the establishment of well-organized, nationally-coordinated blood transfusion services to ensure timely availability of safe blood and blood products;
- the collection of blood from voluntary unpaid blood donors from low-risk populations;
- quality-assured testing for transfusion-transmitted infections, blood grouping and compatibility testing;
- the safe and appropriate use of blood and a reduction in unnecessary transfusions; and
- quality systems covering the entire transfusion process, from donor recruitment to the follow-up with transfusion recipients.
"Despite the advancements in science, artificially synthesizing blood remains impossible," said Dr Shin. "We are grateful for all those who make blood donation a regular part of their lives, and we urge many others to do the same. Together, we can save many lives."