World Blood Donor Day 2021: Theme for this year, 'Give blood, keep the world beating'

World Blood Donor Day, observed annually on June 14th, is an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about blood donation and the need of safe blood and blood products. It is also observed to recognise the importance of volunteer blood donors in saving lives.

According to the WHO, safe blood and blood products are vital to a country's public healthcare system. World Blood Donor Day is an excellent way to share our appreciation to voluntary blood donors.

This year's campaign motto is "Give blood, keep the world beating." The phrase emphasises blood donors' role in saving lives and benefiting the health of people. It also underlines the global need for more individuals to donate blood on a regular basis in order to contribute to better health.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health took to Twitter and said, "Today is World Blood Donor Day. No other work is more sacred than this. Blood donation is an excellent service to humanity. I appeal to all of you that you must donate blood once in a year."

He went to say that blood donation is not only a noble deed; it is also beneficial to our health and has no negative effects on the body. People who donate blood on a regular basis have a lower risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure.

In its statement for World Blood Donor Day, the United Nations said, "People around the world have helped achieve safe blood supplies through voluntary, unpaid blood donations, even amid the COVID-19. We thank them for their contributions on Monday's World Blood Donor Day."

The WHO first celebrated World Blood Donor Day in 2004. It was established as an annual worldwide event during the 58th World Health Assembly in 2005. World Blood Donor Day is observed on the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian biologist and physician widely regarded as the father of modern blood transfusion.