FIRST WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY LAUNCHED GLOBALLY
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Geneva - The first ever World Blood Donor Day will be celebrated globally on 14 June 2004. The day will kick-start a campaign called "Blood, a gift for life", which will be launched in Johannesburg, South Africa.


The purpose of the day is to thank the world's blood donors for their invaluable contribution to their communities, and to encourage new generations of voluntary donors to give their blood regularly.

A sufficient supply of safe blood is one of the cornerstones of a good health-care system and a powerful tool for preventing the transmission of disease. Yet most countries in the world experience a shortage of blood in their hospitals and health-care facilities. Others have faced problems with infected blood.

Any shortage of blood has a particular impact on children with severe life-threatening anaemia caused by malaria and malnutrition, trauma victims and women with complications of pregnancy. Unsafe blood can transmit HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, Chagas disease and malaria.

The main launch of World Blood Donor Day will be held in Johannesburg, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the South African National Blood Service. The day will be celebrated with music, entertainment, and will honour a South African group of young regular blood donors called Club 25. In addition, events and activities will be organized across the world, uniting in a global celebration.

South Africa was identified as the ideal location for the launch because of the success of its national blood service. It has achieved 100% voluntary blood donation, with a very low rate of HIV infection among its blood donors, especially among youth.

The events of World Blood Donor Day are being supported by the collaborative efforts of four international organizations working for the provision of safe blood globally through the promotion of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation: the World Health Organization, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion.

An embargoed press package will be provided to the media a few days before World Blood Donor Day.

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For further information, please contact: Daniela Bagozzi, Communications Officer, Health Technologies and pharmaceuticals, tel. +41 22 791 4544; mob. +41 79 475 54 90, email: bagozzid@who.int. All WHO Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Features can be obtained on the WHO home page http://www.who.int/.