Message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, on the occasion of the 2013 World Blood Donor Day

Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world commemorate World Blood Donor Day. The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Give the gift of life, donate blood”. This raises awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors who, each year, save millions of human lives in the world through their gifts of blood.

Many patients requiring transfusion, particularly in developing countries, do not have timely access to safe blood with fatal consequences in most cases. Transfusion of blood and blood products helps patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life. It also has an essential, life-saving role in caring for women suffering from haemorrhage connected with pregnancy-related complications, children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria and malnutrition, victims of trauma and accidents and patients suffering from chronic diseases.

In the WHO African Region nearly 3.6 million units of blood are collected each year. However, voluntary and unpaid blood donations represent more than 80% in only 21 out the 46 countries in the Region. For more than half of the countries, blood is still collected from a majority of family or replacement donors. Despite these efforts the amount collected is far less than the estimated 8 million blood units needed.

Making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety remains an issue of concern in the Region. Regular voluntary blood donors are the safest source of blood, as there are fewer blood borne infections among these donors than among people who donate for family members in emergencies or who give blood for payment. Providing safe and adequate blood through well-organized, national blood systems should be an integral part of every country’s national health-care policy.

As we commemorate World Blood Donor’s Day, we are reminded that national authorities have a role to play in strengthening the capacity of their Blood Transfusion Services. Enhanced capacity will increase the number of voluntary and unpaid blood donors and facilitate implementation of a programme for quality testing of the blood units collected.

Every blood donation is a gift of life and a single unit of donated blood can save up to three lives. I therefore call on the public to visit the blood transfusion centres or mobile blood collection sites to make voluntary and regular donation. Efforts by civil society organizations, consumer associations and those in charge of patient safety in promoting voluntary, nonremunerated blood donation is vital in this endeavour.

For its part, the WHO Regional Office for Africa will work with other development partners to support countries to ensure that safe blood and blood products are available and used appropriately for all people who need them.

Thank you