Respectfully honour blood donors for their noble contributions

Myanmar people accept the concept that donating blood, which is the most important in human organs, is one of the noble activities to save life and contribute much to giving better treatment to patients who need blood in an emergency.

As an act of honouring the blood donors from all walks of life, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day every year. The event 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.

A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. The global theme of World Blood Donor Day changes each year in recognition of the selfless individuals who donate their blood for people unknown to them.

The annual global campaign honours voluntary, unpaid blood donors and raises awareness about the critical, ongoing need for safe blood supplies. To recognize the generosity of regular donors, encourage new volunteers to build a life-saving habit, and highlight the importance of resilient, safe blood transfusion systems, this year’s theme for World Blood Donor Day has been set as “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.”

If patients reach a condition where blood transfusion is required, no medicine or medical equipment can assist, and only blood transfusion can help. Therefore, the role of regular blood donors who continuously donate blood is an extremely important form of support for patients. Patients have been able to receive treatment with the required blood types and blood components without any concerns about financial costs or the need to search for blood donors, thanks to the support of voluntary blood donors.

In Myanmar, the government has established one National Blood Centre, seven blood banks attached to general hospitals in Mandalay, Magway, Mawlamyine, Myitkyina, Taunggyi, Pathein, and Nay Pyi Taw, as well as additional blood banks integrated with laboratories in 200-bed and 100-bed hospitals. Hospitals in the country follow the Blood Management System (BMS) software, which has also been installed and is being used so as to provide safe and successful treatment for patients.

Blood donation by voluntary donors directly supports patients who urgently need blood for medical treatment and also indirectly contributes to fostering humanitarian activities within communities of different faiths. As such, it is important to highly honour these noble donors for their valuable contributions.

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