World Blood Donor Day, Saturday 14 June 2008

World Blood Donor Day is jointly coordinated by the World Health  Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent  Societies, the International Society of Blood Transfusion and the International  Federation of Blood Donor Organizations. Each year, these partners join  together in an international event that provides a focus for a global media  campaign to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and the importance of  regular voluntary blood donation. The event is also designed to support  national and local campaigns and international organizations to launch  long-term programmes and public awareness campaigns.

This year, the theme of World Blood Donor Day will be “Giving Blood Regularly”.
The official launching of World Blood Donor Day will be held in Dubai,  hosted by the Government of the United  Arab Emirates under the direct patronage  of His Highness, President Sheikh Khalifa in Zayed Al Nahyan. Dr. Amin  Al Amiri, ISBT Director of the  Board representing the WHO Region Eastern Mediterranean, is  Vice-Chairman of the Supreme National Organizing Committee for WBDD 2008 of the  United Arab Emirates.

A World Blood Donor Day brochure and poster accompanies this  announcement and are available on the collective website of the partner  organizations http://www.wbdd.org which also contains news about events and further  resources. You are invited to contribute by sharing your ideas, plans for  activities and resource materials through this website or through direct  communication with the collaborating organizations.

Your involvement and support will help to ensure the success of  World Blood Donor Day 2008 and bring the world one step closer to 100 per cent  voluntary blood donation.  The ISBT is supporting  these meetings by assisting in the set up of the scientific programme, finding  speakers, advice in set up of the exhibition, etc.