WHO calls for more voluntary blood donors

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for more people to voluntarily donate blood and all countries to obtain 100 percent of their supplies of blood and blood products from voluntary unpaid blood donors by 2020 on the occasion of coming World Blood Donor Day on June 14. "Blood collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors is the cornerstone of a safe and sufficient blood supply in all countries. More voluntary blood donors are needed to meet the increasing needs and to improve access to this life-saving therapy," said WHO coordinator Neelam Dhingra said in a written statement. Official statistics showed that in 2011 voluntary unpaid blood donors contributed to nearly 83 million blood donations, an increase of some 8 million donations from 2004. WHO underscored the urgency of achieving more progress after acknowledging the achievements made by 60 countries which collect all of their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid blood donors. 73 countries still collected more than half of their blood supplies from replacement or paid donors. The organization stressed that providing safe and adequate supplies of blood and blood products should be an integral part of every country's national health care policy and infrastructure.