The first World Blood Donor Day was held in 2004, which was followed by its designation as an annual global event by the 58th World Health Assembly in January 2005. World Blood Donor Day is now celebrated each year throughout the world on June 14 to raise awareness on the importance of blood donation and to recognize the contribution of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors in saving lives and improving health.
World Blood Donor Day has a further purpose: to create wider awareness throughout the world about the need for availability and appropriate use of safe blood and blood products, and the need for more people to make a commitment to regular voluntary non-remunerated blood donation.
The date of June 14 is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian biologist and physician, considered as the “founder” of modern blood transfusion.