Thursday, 16 June 2022 – A team from the World Health Organization (WHO) country office in the Islamic Republic of Iran stepped forward to take part in the recent World Blood Donor Day.

A team of six WHO staff joined together on Thursday, 16 June, to donate blood to mark World Blood Donor Day, celebrated annually on 14 June, at a blood donation centre operating under the auspices of the Iran Blood Transfusion Organization.

Headed by WHO Deputy Representative Dr Mikiko Senga, the initiative aimed to increase awareness of safe blood donation.

“The call for donation derives from the fact that we just had the World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday, 14 June. As WHO, we want to practice what we preach by volunteering to donate,” said Dr Senga on the Organization’s initiative. “We hope that the blood donation by six of our colleagues will result in 18 lives saved.”

Every year countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day, which serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

WHO staff joined this initiative on a voluntary basis and were excited to be present at the donation facility.

“As someone who has volunteered for relief and rescue operations for many years, I am well aware of the importance of providing blood supplies, and I had donated blood on a relatively regular basis at the time. I am glad that there is another opportunity to participate in this good tradition and I will try to continue from now on,” said Vahid Farajivafa as he was being prepared by health professionals at the donation centre.

Another donor, Elaheh Amini, said, as she was leaving the room, that, “through donating blood that our body can easily compensate for, a person's life can be saved, and I'm glad I was able to be a part of it.”

On World Blood Donor Day 2022 WHO is calling on people all around the globe to give blood in a gesture of solidarity. Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are a critical aspect of care and public health. They are key in treating people suffering from a range of diseases and as a result of accidents, natural disasters and armed conflict. The need for blood is universal, but access to it is limited – especially in low- and middle-income countries, where shortages particularly impact women and children as they tend to be the people who need blood the most.

“Blood is easily replaced in our bodies, while there are people out there who need it. We need to think about the fact that one day we may also be in need of it,” said Bahman Riazifar, another WHO staff member joining the campaign.

Becoming a regular voluntary blood donor is a simple and selfless step that everyone can take to strengthen their communities, support local health systems and save lives, and this day is an opportunity to recognize donors and inspire others to roll up their sleeves.

#DonateBloodSaveLives