World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), observed each year on 14 June, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their lifesaving gifts of blood. 

A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. This year’s banner, Give blood, give hope – together we save lives, underscores the lifesaving impact of blood transfusion and how, by donating regularly, we can all play a part in building a healthier, more compassionate world. 

In low-income countries, women of childbearing age and children under 5 are among the most frequent recipients of blood. Blood transfusions provide lifesaving support for women experiencing bleeding related to pregnancy and childbirth and for children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria or malnutrition.