World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 14 June, marking the birthday of the scientist Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the main blood groups. Throughout the world, approximately 118.5 million blood donations are collected annually. Out of these, 40% is collected in high-income countries which are home to 16% of the world’s population. This portrays the discrepancy between low- and high-income countries in relation to the access of safe blood.
World Blood Donor Day 2022 was celebrated across the globe to felicitate the voluntary, unpaid blood donors who contribute immensely to the national healthcare system. In Sri Lanka, a majority of blood units are collected through mobile blood donation campaigns organised by volunteer individuals and organisations. With this humanitarian endeavour, the National Blood Transfusion Service of Sri Lanka was able to declare the self-sufficiency of blood through 100% voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors in 2014. Up to date, only around 60 countries have achieved this goal across the world and Sri Lanka is the only South Asian country to achieve this.
Blood supply and availability
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is a marked difference between low- and high-income countries in relation to access to safe blood. The blood donation rate is considered an indicator to describe the level of blood availability in a country. The blood donation rate in high-income countries was recorded as 31.5 donations per 1,000 people, whereas it was only 5.0 donations per 1,000 people in low-income countries. In upper-middle-income countries, this rate was 16.4 donations per 1,000 people. Certain low- or middle-income countries in the African, Eastern-Mediterranean, and South East Asian regions have reported collecting less than 10 blood donations. Amidst numerous constraints, Sri Lanka maintains the level of blood availability to 20 donations per 1,000 people, keeping the National Blood Transfusion Service of Sri Lanka above the level of the upper-middle-income countries. Nationally co-ordinated system and the humanitarian volunteerism of Sri Lankans have contributed to this pronounced achievement.
Use of blood
According to the WHO, indications for blood transfusions also vary between high- and low-income countries. In developed countries, blood transfusion is mostly required for major surgeries, massive trauma, and blood-related cancers, whereas in developing countries, the commonest indications are for pregnancy-related complications and for children with severe anaemia. Thus, there is a great variation in terms of age distribution of transfused patients between high-income and low-middle-income countries. According to global statistics, in high-income countries, the most frequently transfused patients are in the age group of over 60 years. However, in low-income countries, up to 54% of transfusions are for children under the age of 5 years.
Blood donation
Considering the types of blood donors, WHO defines three types which include voluntary unpaid, family or replacement blood donors, and paid blood donors. Out of the three types, voluntary unpaid blood donors are considered the safest group of blood donors.
A reliable, safe, and sufficient supply of blood is assured by the availability of a regular, voluntary, non-remunerated blood donor base. WHO data shows a recent rise of voluntary unpaid blood donors in low- and middle-income countries. Within the period of 2008-2018, the highest increase in volunteer, unpaid blood donations was reported in Southeast Asia followed by American and African regions.
Across the globe, 79 countries collect over 90% of their blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors. This includes 38 high-income countries, 33 middle-income countries, and eight low-income countries. Out of these 79 countries, only 64 countries collect 100% (or more than 99%) blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
Still, there are 54 countries which depend on family/replacement and paid blood donors and fulfilling 50% of the blood supplies from them. This includes eight high-income countries, 36 middle-income countries, and 10 low-income countries.
Blood supply during the Covid-19 pandemic
Across the globe, blood donations were compromised during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. With the parallel reduction in blood demand and usage, the decrease in blood collection has been managed worldwide.
“The National Blood Transfusion Service underwent a challenging time during the pandemic. However, we were able to manage the national blood requirement successfully. Most of the hardships were never disclosed to the media since the strength of the voluntary blood donors and blood donation campaign organisers were joining hands with us to strengthen national blood reserves,” said National Blood Transfusion Service Director Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe, addressing the World Blood Donor Day National event.
National event of World Blood Donor Day 2022
The national event of World Blood Donor Day 2022 was held on 14 June 2022 at the auditorium of the National Blood Centre, Narahenpita. As a symbolic event, a selected number of blood donors and mobile blood donation campaign organisers were felicitated during the event. Ministry of Health Deputy Director – General Laboratory Services Dr. Sudath Dharmaratna graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Dr. Edirisinghe further mentioned about the possible risks of disruptions to blood supplies due to the impending crisis in the supply chain management of critical consumables and reagents to run the National Blood Transfusion Service. It is a responsibility of the Government and the public to preserve the achievements of this initiative and strengthen this humanitarian national service which saves lives every day.Donating blood is an act of solidarity
27 Jun 2022
Donating blood is an act of solidarity
27 Jun 2022
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 14 June, marking the birthday of the scientist Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the main blood groups. Throughout the world, approximately 118.5 million blood donations are collected annually. Out of these, 40% is collected in high-income countries which are home to 16% of the world’s population. This portrays the discrepancy between low- and high-income countries in relation to the access of safe blood.
World Blood Donor Day 2022 was celebrated across the globe to felicitate the voluntary, unpaid blood donors who contribute immensely to the national healthcare system. In Sri Lanka, a majority of blood units are collected through mobile blood donation campaigns organised by volunteer individuals and organisations. With this humanitarian endeavour, the National Blood Transfusion Service of Sri Lanka was able to declare the self-sufficiency of blood through 100% voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors in 2014. Up to date, only around 60 countries have achieved this goal across the world and Sri Lanka is the only South Asian country to achieve this.
Blood supply and availability
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is a marked difference between low- and high-income countries in relation to access to safe blood. The blood donation rate is considered an indicator to describe the level of blood availability in a country. The blood donation rate in high-income countries was recorded as 31.5 donations per 1,000 people, whereas it was only 5.0 donations per 1,000 people in low-income countries. In upper-middle-income countries, this rate was 16.4 donations per 1,000 people. Certain low- or middle-income countries in the African, Eastern-Mediterranean, and South East Asian regions have reported collecting less than 10 blood donations. Amidst numerous constraints, Sri Lanka maintains the level of blood availability to 20 donations per 1,000 people, keeping the National Blood Transfusion Service of Sri Lanka above the level of the upper-middle-income countries. Nationally co-ordinated system and the humanitarian volunteerism of Sri Lankans have contributed to this pronounced achievement.
Use of blood
According to the WHO, indications for blood transfusions also vary between high- and low-income countries. In developed countries, blood transfusion is mostly required for major surgeries, massive trauma, and blood-related cancers, whereas in developing countries, the commonest indications are for pregnancy-related complications and for children with severe anaemia. Thus, there is a great variation in terms of age distribution of transfused patients between high-income and low-middle-income countries. According to global statistics, in high-income countries, the most frequently transfused patients are in the age group of over 60 years. However, in low-income countries, up to 54% of transfusions are for children under the age of 5 years.
Blood donation
Considering the types of blood donors, WHO defines three types which include voluntary unpaid, family or replacement blood donors, and paid blood donors. Out of the three types, voluntary unpaid blood donors are considered the safest group of blood donors.
A reliable, safe, and sufficient supply of blood is assured by the availability of a regular, voluntary, non-remunerated blood donor base. WHO data shows a recent rise of voluntary unpaid blood donors in low- and middle-income countries. Within the period of 2008-2018, the highest increase in volunteer, unpaid blood donations was reported in Southeast Asia followed by American and African regions.
Across the globe, 79 countries collect over 90% of their blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors. This includes 38 high-income countries, 33 middle-income countries, and eight low-income countries. Out of these 79 countries, only 64 countries collect 100% (or more than 99%) blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
Still, there are 54 countries which depend on family/replacement and paid blood donors and fulfilling 50% of the blood supplies from them. This includes eight high-income countries, 36 middle-income countries, and 10 low-income countries.
Blood supply during the Covid-19 pandemic
Across the globe, blood donations were compromised during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. With the parallel reduction in blood demand and usage, the decrease in blood collection has been managed worldwide.
“The National Blood Transfusion Service underwent a challenging time during the pandemic. However, we were able to manage the national blood requirement successfully. Most of the hardships were never disclosed to the media since the strength of the voluntary blood donors and blood donation campaign organisers were joining hands with us to strengthen national blood reserves,” said National Blood Transfusion Service Director Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe, addressing the World Blood Donor Day National event.
National event of World Blood Donor Day 2022
The national event of World Blood Donor Day 2022 was held on 14 June 2022 at the auditorium of the National Blood Centre, Narahenpita. As a symbolic event, a selected number of blood donors and mobile blood donation campaign organisers were felicitated during the event. Ministry of Health Deputy Director – General Laboratory Services Dr. Sudath Dharmaratna graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Dr. Edirisinghe further mentioned about the possible risks of disruptions to blood supplies due to the impending crisis in the supply chain management of critical consumables and reagents to run the National Blood Transfusion Service. It is a responsibility of the Government and the public to preserve the achievements of this initiative and strengthen this humanitarian national service which saves lives every day.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!