INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN - World Blood Donor Day takes place on 14 June each year
The day provides an opportunity to call to action governments and health authorities to provide adequate resources to increase the
collection of blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors and to manage access to blood and the transfusion of those who require it.For 2022,
within communities.To ensure that everyone who needs transfusion has access to safe blood, all countries need voluntary, unpaid blood donors
who give blood regularly.While blood donation in 70 countries still depends on replacement or paid donors, Iran is the first country in the
region that has enjoyed voluntary blood donation by 100 percent since 2007.In Iran, the safety and health of blood are guaranteed according
to the latest global standards and are second to none in the Eastern Mediterranean region, says Abbas Sedaqat, a spokesman for the Blood
Donation Organization.The country is honored to be introduced as a colleague of the World Health Organization, aiming to promote and
transfer the knowledge for donating and transfusing blood observing all the global standards.There are currently 178 blood donation centers
in the country and more than 2.1 million Iranians donate blood annually
Iran currently has the highest blood donation rate in the Eastern Mediterranean region.While blood donation in 70 countries still depends on
replacement or paid donors, Iran is the first country in the region that has enjoyed voluntary blood donation by 100 percent since 2007.More
than 85 percent of all donated blood worldwide is used to produce blood products, while the rate is 65 percent in Eastern Mediterranean
Iran ranks among the highest-income countries in terms of converting more than 97 percent of the blood donated by people to plasma-derived
for safe blood and blood products for transfusion; highlight the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national
health systems; and support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations, and other non-governmental organizations in
strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs by reinforcing national and local campaigns.The need for blood is
universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not
Blood shortages are particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries.An effective blood donor program, characterized by the wide and
active participation of the population, is crucial in meeting the need for blood transfusion during peacetime as well as during emergencies
or disasters, when there is a surge in demand for blood, or when the normal operation of blood services is affected.While an enabling social
and cultural atmosphere with strong solidarity facilitates the development of an effective blood donor program, it is also widely
acknowledged that the act of blood donation contributes to generating social ties and building a united community.The specific objectives of
donation; highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to
safe blood transfusion; recognize and promote the values of voluntary unpaid blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social
cohesion; raise awareness of the need for increased investment from governments to build a sustainable and resilient national blood system
and increase collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.
