The theme for this years celebration is ‘Don’t wait until Disaster striker – Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often’
Words: Vandana Devi Images: Various Sources
On 14 June, every year, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. This is to raise awareness about the need for blood donation. The theme for this years celebration is, ‘Don’t wait until Disaster strikes – Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often.’ It underlines the role that every single person can play in helping others during emergency situations by giving blood. It also focuses on the need for regular donations and setting up a stock to tackle such situations.
Blood donation is a gift of life. We can save so many lives with our blood. And to remind us of this gift that we have, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated. Established in 2004, the celebration besides raising awareness also thanks blood donors.
In Kerala, Governor P Sathasivam inaugurated the celebration organised by Terumo Penpol in association with All Kerala Donors Society at Vylopilly Samskrithi Bhavan. Repeat donors were felicitated and Colleges, NGOs and other institutions were honoured for their contributions towards spreading the idea of blood donation.
This day is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner. Landsteiner, an Austrian biologist, physician and immunologist, was mainly credited for developing the modern system of classification of blood groups, thus enabling blood transfusion. He received a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.