WHO and partners are encouraging communities everywhere to join the World Blood Donor Day 2011 campaign and “Paint the world red”, whether by symbolically colouring, covering or lighting monuments, popular landmarks and buildings in red; staging artistic, cultural or musical events with a red-coloured theme; or forming a "human blood drop" in prominent public places.

Launched on 14 June 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa, World Blood Donor Day builds on the success of World Health Day 2000, which was devoted to the theme ‘Blood Saves Lives. Safe Blood Starts With Me’. The enthusiasm and energy with which this day was celebrated was a powerful and positive response to the opportunity to thank the millions of people who give the precious gift of life through their donation of blood every year. It also builds on International Blood Donor Day organized annually by the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations since 1995.

The aim of designating this annual day and linking it to a global celebration was to promote voluntary non-remunerated blood donation throughout the world.

Every year, countries throughout every region of the world organize a huge variety of events and activities to celebrate the day, from football matches to free concerts, and from mobile blood donation clinics to monumental decorations. The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2011 is, "More blood. More life." This theme reinforces the urgent need for more people all over the world to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly.

Official Website:
http://www.who.int/worldblooddonorday/en/

·  Official World Blood Donor Day song from Argentina
Singers: Patricia Sosa and Andrés Giménez

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International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (FIODS)