The Gift of Life
More voluntary blood donors needed
The need for blood and blood products is increasing every year, and many patients requiring life-saving transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood and blood products. Regular voluntary unpaid blood donors are the safest source of blood as there are fewer blood-borne infections among these donors than among people who give blood in exchange for money or who donate for family members in emergencies.
World Health Organisation (WHO) calls for all countries to obtain 100% of their supplies of blood and blood products from voluntary unpaid blood donors by 2020.
Currently, 60 countries collect 100% of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors. More progress is needed, with 73 countries still collecting more than 50% of their blood supply from replacement or paid donors.
Providing safe and adequate supplies of blood and blood products should be an integral part of every country's national health care policy and infrastructure. WHO provides policy guidance and technical assistance to support countries in developing national blood systems based on voluntary unpaid blood donations, and implementing quality systems to ensure that safe and quality blood and blood products are available and used appropriately for all people who need them.
Source: World Health Organisation
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