Hyderabad: World Blood Donor Day builds on the success of World Health Day 2000 which was devoted to the theme ‘Be there for somebody. Give Blood, Share Life.’

The date June 14 was selected as World Blood Donor Day since it is the anniversary of the birth of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system.

In designating one special day each year to celebrate the role of these blood donors in health care around the world, it is hoped that a new generation of blood donors will follow their example, thereby providing the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life.

On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, Dr Surekha Devi A, HOD & Specialist for Haematology & Transfusion Department at Glenealges Global Hospitals says, “People below age of 40 years can donate blood 4 times a year with an interval of 3 months (between 2 successful donations). We at GGH encourage and try to motivate healthy young people to donate platelets through a special process called ‘Plateletstheresis’ which is in high demand. In this process, platelets are donated directly and help in preventing life threatening bleeding in patients during emergency with low platelets count”.

Dr Surekha further adds, “Every few seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood- Be there for somebody.  Give Blood and Share Life.”

The focus of World Blood Donor Day, which celebrates the gift of blood, is always on voluntary blood donors. it is designed to celebrate and thank those individuals who voluntarily donate their blood without any reward, except the knowledge that they have helped to save lives, particularly those who give blood on a regular basis two, three or more times each year.