Saluting blood donors, the unsung hero
Heroes save lives, so a blood donor. If you are 18 years and over, weight more than 45 Kg, you are all set to donate blood and become a real hero. Voluntary blood donors are the safest and largest source of blood — are the unsung heroes who save life every single day. Every year, millions of people rely on the generosity of another person to donate blood. With increasing life expectancy and the subsequent increase in the number of age-related, chronic diseases, including cancers, that require blood and blood products for treatment, demand outstrips supply. Even in middle income countries, the progressive development of medical and surgical procedures such as cardiovascular and transplant surgery, trauma care, during childbirth and therapy for blood disorders. To meet these needs, more people must come forward to give blood voluntarily, and regularly. There are 92 million blood donations per year globally, most of these by voluntary, unpaid donors. But of these voluntary donors, 30 million give blood once, and then do not return. We need to encourage these donors to come back and become repeat, regular donors. Spreading awareness, about the importance and noble virtue of donating blood is essential especially among the youth. In Bangladesh, certain misconceptions regarding blood donation are still existed. Some people consider that donating blood makers the donor weaker and creates deficiency of blood or has the potential to damage/harm the donor's health. In order to promote and encourage voluntary repeated blood donation, World Blood Donor Day was observed on June 14. The theme of day was Every blood donor is a hero. This idea focuses on recognising those individuals who donate blood each year as heroes. Different medical studies have shown that the benefits of blood donation are not just for those receiving the blood, but for those giving it too. According to a study published by the American Medical Association, it was established that giving blood every six months led to fewer heart attacks and strokes in test participants between the ages of 43 to 61. Excessive iron produced in the body is thought to contribute to heart diseases, and donating blood on a regular basis reduces the iron stores in the body preserving heart and vascular health. A hero responds to an immediate need, whatever the conditions, despite inconvenience, putting the needs of others above their own. Voluntary blood donors by choosing to donate blood without getting paid, commit a heroic act, a gesture of human solidarity with the power to save lives. Join those millions have chosen to become a hero, a real life hero.
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