Islam Online - Blood Donor Day Activities

For immediate release

NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE TO HOST WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY 2005

This year’s World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is to be hosted by the National Blood Service (NBS) on June 14, a date that commemorates the birth of Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood group system. The day will provide an opportunity for blood services across the globe to collectively recognise and thank their donors for their support.

Numerous international and national celebrities will be lending their support to launch of WBDD in London this year. WBDD is backed and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WBDD 2005 will have a celebration theme, “Celebrating the gift of blood”, and people will be encouraged to attend events across England, as well as around the world. The events will highlight emotive stories of people whose lives have been touched by blood.

Mike Fogden, Chairman of the NBS, said: “WBDD provides a splendid opportunity to raise awareness of the need for blood and blood donors. The NBS is honoured to host this event.”

The overwhelming majority of the world’s population do not have access to safe blood. Over 80 million units of blood are donated every year around the world, but only 38% is collected in developing countries where 82% of the global population live. WBDD will help raise awareness of the issues that these countries face.

The need for blood is universal and many people know of someone who has either needed a blood transfusion or required blood for other procedures, such as cancer treatment. Blood in the UK is generously donated by voluntary donors from the public. The NBS needs to collect 8,000 donations of blood every day across England and north Wales in order to make sure patients get the treatments they need. Last year the NBS collected over 2.3 million donations from some 1.3 million donors and many lives were improved or saved due to these donations.

The demand for blood never stops. Indeed, the NBS constantly needs people to come forward and give blood regularly. If you are aged between 17 – 60 years of age (17 -70 for regular donors), in general good health and weigh over 50kg, you could give blood - you may just save someone’s life! For further information on how to become a blood donor, please call the National Donor Helpline on 0845 7 711 711 or log onto www.blood.co.uk.

Exact Address

Trafalgar Square, London

P.O. Box

Phone

Fax

Web Site if Available

Organization/Person in charge of activity

Name

Matt Thompson

Country

United Kingdom

City

Leeds

Address

Sinclair Mason, The Old Chapel, Shadwell Lane, Moortown LS17 6DR

Phone

Fax

+44 (0) 870 6060960

Web Site if Available