Context: Every year, on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood transfusion. 
Issue

• Most low- and middle-income countries struggle to make safe blood available because donations are low and equipment to test blood is scarce. 
• Globally, 42% of blood is collected in high-income countries, which are home to only 16% of the world’s population.
• An adequate supply of safe blood can only be assured through regular donations by voluntary unpaid blood donors. 
• This is why the World Health Assembly in 2005 designated a special day to thank blood donors and encourage more people to give blood freely. 

About World Blood Donor Day

• It is an annual event, celebrated on 14th June, by countries around the world.
• It serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

The objectives of World Blood Donor Day 2020 campaign are to

• celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to start donating;
• raise wider awareness of the urgent need to increase the availability of safe blood for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life;
• demonstrate the need for universal access to safe blood transfusion and provide advocacy on its role in the provision of effective health care and in achieving universal health coverage;
• mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes

The theme for 2020 World Blood Donor Day is 'Safe blood saves lives'.

• International organizations, including the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion, among others, continue to work in close collaboration to provide guidance and support to their membership in this endeavour.

Who can donate blood?

• The age of the donor must be above 18 years and below 60 years of age. 
• He/she must have a haemoglobin count that is not less than 12.5 g/dl. 
• The Weigh should not less than 45 kgs. One should have a normal body temperature at the time of donation.