World Blood Donor Day Regional Celebrations

June 11, 2021

Bermuda and Jamaica are set to headline the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization [PAHO/WHO] regional celebrations for World Blood Donor Day.

A spokesperson said, “The event will be livestreamed on PAHO social media pages on Monday, June 14 starting at 11:00AM.

“World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion while emphasizing the positive impact of voluntary blood donors on national health systems. The 2021 theme, ‘Give blood and keep the world beating’ highlights the contribution that blood donors make to keeping the world pulsating by saving lives.”

Dr. Bernadette Theodore-Gandi, PAHO/WHO Representative in Bermuda, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, said, “This World Blood Donor Day, we will place special emphasis on the contribution of young people to ensuring a safe blood supply.

“Both Bermuda and Jamaica possess a strong youth population and we commend Honorable Kim Wilson, Minister of Health of Bermuda and Dr. the Honorable Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness of Jamaica for championing voluntary blood donation on the national and regional stage.

“Data collected by PAHO/WHO suggests that people under 24 years old in Latin America and the Caribbean characterized a high percentage of blood donors in 2016 and 2017, representing 37.5% and 30.6% respectively. Increasingly, young people and youth organizations have been at the forefront of initiatives, such as the organization of local blood drives, aimed at increasing national reserves of safe blood supplies.

“As nations grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a reduction in blood donations. However, the need for safe blood remains as our health systems deal with medical emergencies, support surgeries and offer specialized care to the vulnerable among us. Our best option for continued blood donations lies in encouraging our youth to embrace blood donation as a lifelong path.”

The spokesperson said, “Viewers interested in the regional celebrations can watch on the PAHO Caribbean Facebook and PAHO TV on YouTube.”