Blood transfusion key to saving lives, says WHO ahead of World Blood Donor Day
text_fields
New Delhi: Blood transfusion remains a vital pillar of healthcare and emergency response systems, according to Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia. Her statement comes ahead of World Blood Donor Day, observed every year on 14 June. This year’s theme is “Give blood, give hope: Together we save lives.”
The day recognizes voluntary, unpaid donors whose generous contributions save lives every day.
To build resilient health systems, continuous access to safe blood and blood products is essential, Wazed noted, stressing the life-saving importance of transfusions in childbirth complications, severe anemia in children, surgeries, and chronic conditions such as thalassemia, hemophilia, and sickle-cell disease.
She also highlighted the critical role of blood supply during crises like natural disasters and conflict, where timely transfusions often mean the difference between life and death.
Despite this, many people in low- and middle-income countries still lack access to safe, timely transfusion services.
Wazed called for strong national systems supported by a committed base of voluntary, unpaid donors. She noted that all countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region now have national blood policies aligned with WHO’s recommendations, promoting 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donations (VNRD) and adherence to recognized blood safety standards.
Nearly half of WHO’s South-East Asia member states have achieved close to 100 per cent VNRD coverage. Regionally, around 82 per cent of all donated blood comes from voluntary donors, a figure reflecting robust community participation.
All blood in the region is screened for transfusion-transmitted infections and tested for essential serological markers, she added.
Urging governments and health authorities to strengthen national transfusion programs, Wazed said: “On World Blood Donor Day 2025, let us remember that each blood donation is not just a medical act -- it is an act of compassion, commitment, and hope. It is a lifeline to someone, somewhere, who may never meet their donor, but whose life was touched forever.”
