World Blood Donor Day 2024: Date, history, significance and all that you need to know

Every year, World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14. This year, World Blood Donor Day falls on Friday.

In 1940, a scientist called Richard Lower performed blood transfusion between two dogs without any ill effects. This breakthrough allowed the development of modern blood transfusion techniques and made blood donation and transfusion a regular procedure in the healthcare sector. In 2005, The World Health Assembly announced June 14 to be observed as World Blood Donor Day every year. Since then, the day has been celebrated every year.

The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day Is – 20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors. World Blood Donor Day is observed with the intention of raising awareness about the importance of donating blood and supporting communities. The day also urges people to donate blood to help the constant supply of healthy blood for the healthcare industry. “The 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day is an excellent and timely opportunity to thank blood donors across the world for their life-saving donations over the years and honour the profound impact on both patients and donors. It is also a timely moment to address continued challenges and accelerate progress towards a future where safe blood transfusion is universally accessible,” wrote the World Health Organisation on their official website.