13.06.2012

Every second of every day, someone in the world needs a blood transfusion to survive!!! World Blood Donor Day is celebrated as a global celebration of the Gift of Blood given by voluntary, unpaid donors to save the lives of those in need. World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is 14th June – the birthday of Nobel Prize winner Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood grouping system. Supported by the World Health Organization the day aims to raise awareness of the importance of regular voluntary blood donation.

Every year millions of lives are saved thanks to the transfusion of blood and blood products – people injured in accidents, disasters and incidents; newly born babies and their mothers; patients that need complex medical and surgical procedures; people suffering from chronic conditions whose life can be supported only through regular transfusion of blood…

Today, in 62 countries, national blood supplies are based on more than 99.9% voluntary unpaid blood donation.  Unfortunately, in Bulgaria, this percentage is still lower than 25%. The remaining quantity of blood needed is collected from paid donors or family donors. The goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) is  for all countries to obtain their blood supplies entirely from voluntary unpaid donors by 2020, which is unanimously considered as the safest way for both the donor and the recipient of the blood.

The city of Seoul, Korea, was chosen as World Blood Donor Day 2012 host city. The theme of this year’s event is „Every blood donor is a hero“, which aims to remind everyone that it is easy to be a hero – it is enough to simply donate blood.

Bulgarian Organization of Voluntary Blood Donation would like to join Bulgaria to the celebrating of the WBDD and to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, obtained through voluntary unpaid donation of blood. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to each and every hero that donates blood by saying a very big “THANK YOU” and to encourage current and potential donors to donate regularly on a voluntary unpaid basis.

Do not postpone it – right now, someone needs your blood!

Please share your opinion and support voluntary blood donation in Bulgaria through the Bulgarian Orgainzation of Voluntary Blood Donation by liking us on facebook – БОДК / BOVBD – you will receive up-to-date information on the topic, information about blood donation events and emergency help requests.  E-mail us on blood.donation.bg@gmail.com an we will provide you with all the necessary information on how to become a regular blood donor.