Voluntary blood donation
Safe blood donors are the cornerstone of a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products. The safest bloo
from low-risk populations. Despite this, family/replacement and paid donors, which are associated with a signific
infections (TTIs) including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and Chagas disease, still provide more than 50%
advocates and recommends to its Member States to develop national blood transfusion services based on volunta
with World Health Assembly resolution 28.72, which was adopted in 1975.
The key to recruiting and retaining safe blood donors is good epidemiological data on the prevalence (and incide
infectious markers in the general population to identify low-risk donor populations coupled with an effective don
and recruitment strategy to recruit new voluntary non-remunerated blood donors from these populations. A pleas
donation, good donor care and effective communication between blood centre staff and blood donors are all impo
retention of safe blood donors.
WHO has developed a set of simple guidelines designed to assist those responsible for blood donor recruitment i
develop and implement a programme to improve communication with blood donors. These guidelines provide ap
communication programme – organizing, collecting information, and developing plans; as well as providing idea
might consider for recruiting, educating and retaining safe donors.
Elements and activities in promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation include
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National blood donor programme for the education, recruitment and retention of low-risk blood donors, in
organizations and youth programmes;
Appointment of an officer responsible for the national blood donor programme to include donor educatio
Training of donor recruitment and donor care staff in donor education, motivation, recruitment, selection
Development of partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, such as national Red Cross and Red C
national service organizations and the media
Identification of donor populations at low risk for transfusion-transmissible infections and development o
voluntary blood donation;
Development of donor education and recruitment materials;
Educational and media campaigns in workplaces, communities and educational institutions;
Establishment and maintenance of a database/register of donor records;
Guidelines and protocols for donor selection and deferral, donor confidentiality and donor care;
Guidelines on the management of donor sessions and blood collection;
Monitoring of TTIs in donor population;
Training of staff in pre- and post-donation counseling;
Donor notification and referral for counseling;
Monitoring and evaluation of the blood donor programme.
World Blood Donor Day, 14 June
:: http://www.who.int/worldblooddonorday
:: WBDD web page
Activities and Success stories
WHO, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies (IFRCRCS), t
Organizations (FIODS) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) sponsors World Blood Donor
which is celebrated around the world, is designed to create wider awareness of the importance of voluntary non-r
to donate blood regularly. The aim of the day is to thank those individuals who voluntary donate their blood with
helping to save someone's life.
Following the success of World Health Day 2000, which had the theme “Blood Saves Lives. Safe Blood Starts w
Donor Day was held on 14 June 2004 and was celebrated in over 70 countries. In 2005, nearly 100 countries thro
in activities to celebrate and thank voluntary blood donors.
In May 2005, at the Fifty-Eighth Session of the World Health Assembly, 192 Member States of the World Health
resolution WHA58.13 to establish World Blood Donor Day as an annual event, to be celebrated each year on 14
resolution, they reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply that is accessible to al
transfusion and is used in the most rational manner to avoid unnecessary transfusions.
This year's World Blood Donor Day will focus on commitment: commitment from healthy individuals to become
from existing voluntary donors to continue to donate regularly and commitment by blood transfusion services an
of care at every stage of the transfusion process - from the collection of blood from the donor to its transfusion to
Each year, in a wave of global solidarity, organizations and community groups around the world hold a rich varie
complement their ongoing activities. As groups active in voluntary blood donation often join forces on the Day to
maximum impact, these events are often a catalyst for long-term collaboration and communication with commun
Blood Donor Day 2006 will set a new record for participating countries and organizations.
A global event is also held on 14 June each year to provide a focus for an international media campaign on World
Bangkok, hosted by the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, which is a WHO Collaborating Centre f
Club 25: reaching young blood donors
WHO, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCRCS), h
application of the Pledge 25/Club 25 peer education and promotion programmes pioneered in Zimbabwe and Sou
give 20 donations of blood before the age of 25 and to lead healthy lifestyles to protect both themselves and the r
agents. WHO has supported pilot projects in Botswana, India, Indonesia, Uganda and Zambia. For more informa
visit: http://www.ifrc.org/youth/activities/club25
Related documents
:: World Blood Donor Day 2005 Report: Celebrating your gift of blood [pdf 1.96Mb]
:: World Blood Donor Day 2004 Report: Stories from Around the World [pdf 830kb]
UPCOMING
EVENTS
:: New and previous
events
RESOURCES
Aide Memoire: Blood
Safety
Read more... [pdf
177kb]
Blood Transfusion
Safety
Read more... [pdf
273kb]
Blood cold Chain
Manual
Read more [pdf
3.47Mb]
External Quality
Assessment
Read more... [pdf
600kb]
Aide Memoire:
Clinical Use of Blood
Read more... [pdf
144kb]
:: Documentation
centre
:: World Health
Assembly and
Executive Board
Resolutions on Blood
Safety and Availability
Contact information
World Health
Organization
Blood Transfusion
Safety
Department of
Essential Health
Technologies
(HSS/EHT/BTS)
20 Avenue Appia
1211, Geneva 27
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791
4660
Fax: +41 22 791
4836
Email:
bloodsafety@who.int