Filenews 14 June 2021
World Voluntary Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on June 14. This day is particularly important for Cyprus since, thanks to voluntary blood donors, it ranks first across Europe, in proportion to population, in organized voluntary blood donation.
The title of this year's World Health Organization (WHO) campaign is "Give blood and keep the world alive" by sending a message about the important contribution of voluntary donors to saving lives and improving the health of citizens. It is also a call to attract more volunteer blood donors around the world to offer blood on a regular basis. At the same time, great emphasis is placed on the role of youth in ensuring the adequacy of safe blood.
Safe blood and its derivatives, as well as transfusions are a critical aspect of care and public health. During the pandemic, despite limited mobility and other challenges, volunteer blood donors continue to donate blood and plasma to patients in need of transfusion. Excessive effort in this critical period highlights the critical role that well-organized, dedicated volunteer blood donors play in ensuring adequate safe blood reserves, both in normal conditions and in emergencies.
It honours Cyprus for having created a very good tradition in organized voluntary blood donation. Around 60,000 bottles are offered each year, an extremely large number, in relation to the country's population, placing it in first place in proportion across Europe.
The Presidency of the Republic first congratulates all voluntary donors for their altruism and solid solidarity with fellow human beings and expresses thanks to all stakeholders from the state and private sectors, as well as to NGOs.
