- During 2020 and regardless of the health emergency, the National Center for Blood Transfusion collected more than one million 200 thousand units of blood.
- Of that figure, 8.5% was voluntarily and altruistically, something that had never happened before.
- Every June 14 marks World Blood Donor Day.
This year Mexico will host the celebration and activities on the occasion of the World Blood Donor Day 2022. On this occasion, the event that is commemorated on June 14 bears the motto “Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) designated our country as the venue in recognition of the actions to eliminate prejudices, myths and stigmas about the altruistic donation. It also aims to carry out recruitment campaigns and the supply strategy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feat achieved during the pandemic
As a result of the strategies promoted by the National Center for Blood Transfusion (CNTS) during the 2020 health emergency, more than one million 200 thousand units of blood were obtained. Of that figure, 8.5 percent was voluntarily and altruistically, something that had never happened before.
Among the actions, the work in the field with the visit to communities and institutions to promote the donation of blood and its components stands out.
Also the permanent dissemination of messages to the population through various channels to highlight the importance of blood donation, eradicate donation myths, inform the details of the donation process with strict security measures. This action has helped eliminate myths and stigmas surrounding this work, which has increased people’s trust and participation.
Activities for World Blood Donor Day 2022
As part of the commemoration activities, the Ministry of Health, through the CNTS, led by Jorge Trejo Gómora, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, will light up red on June 14 from 8:00 p.m. different monuments, buildings, landmarks, blood banks and hospitals in the country.
This year all countries are encouraged to promote special campaigns on social networks and various media in which not only the life stories of patients who were saved thanks to transfusion are shown, but also to recognize all donors .
The World Blood Donor Day was instituted by the WHO with the purpose of raising global awareness of the need for a supply of safe blood products for transfusion.
To achieve this goal, voluntary non-remunerated donors are required to contribute periodically to this noble task, since for each donation it is possible to save up to three lives, since blood and its components are essential resources for treatment. For example, for women suffering from bleeding related to pregnancy and childbirth, people suffering from severe anemia due to malaria and malnutrition, and patients with bone marrow damage, among others.