Everyone should have access to safe blood transfusions -WHO

The world has abundant of resources but not all have the access to it. True to the saying Health is Wealth, in one way we all are wealthy.  We have fresh air, enough water to drink, adequate food, clothes, shelter, healthy body and people to care for us.

But a great many people out there have less access to all these. People who suffer from serious health hazards require blood transfusions and though we have generous hearts to donate blood, we have many people including children, women and seniors who lack the opportunity to obtain this life-saving liquid. As per sources, India needs about 5 crore units of blood of which only 2.5 crore units are made available? More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day  and the blood type mostly requested is ‘O’. Only 7 percent of people in India have O-negative blood type. O-negative blood type donors are universal donors as their blood can be given to people of all blood types.

In 1901, Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian physician, discovered the first three human blood groups. On his birthday i.e June 14th “World Blood Donors Day” is celebrated. On October 1st ‘National Blood Donation Day’ celebrates in India. Let the latter day be a target to us all. When that day arrives, if you haven’t donated your blood before, donate it before you the targeted day arrives and proudly tell the world you are a blood donor. Let us encourage our family and friends to pledge that what we have in plenty we’ll share it with the needy.

Colleges, Hospitals, Government Organization, Private Charitable Trusts, NGOs and all others are doing their part. We too, as responsible individuals and a good Samaritans should contribute to the society.