Message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day 2012
Each year, on June 14, we commemorate World Blood Donor Day. This
event provides an opportunity to draw public attention to the importance
of blood donation in saving lives. The theme for this year’s
commemoration is “Every blood donor is a hero”.
This
theme acknowledges the heroic gesture of donating blood to save lives
and encourages all healthy people to voluntarily donate blood. It also
draws attention to the importance of mobilizing adequate resources to
support efforts to achieve 100% voluntary blood donations. Safe and
adequate supplies of blood are needed to save lives because blood is
often the only means of survival. However in the African Region a
significant number of patients needing transfusion do not have timely
access to safe blood. Blood- transmitted diseases, haemorrhage and
anaemia during difficult childbirth, road accidents, and others are
evidence of the scale of the unmet need in the region.
A lot of
progress has been made in the WHO African Region since the adoption of
the regional strategy on blood safety in 2001. Many countries developed
policies as well as implementation plans to ensure the provision of
adequate safe blood supply by improving blood donor recruitment, testing
of blood, appropriate clinical use of blood and establishment of
quality systems. However, it is regrettable that others are far from
reaching the target of collecting at least 80% of donated blood from
voluntary and regular donors. Today, about 20 out of the 46 countries of
the WHO African Region collect more than 50% of their units of blood
from replacement family donors. In spite of the laudable efforts and
progress in recent years, the total units of blood collected remain
inadequate.
Improving the health of the people is an essential
component in the sustainable development of every country. Safe blood
donations play a vital role particularly in the effective and prompt
provision of care for women, children and men suffering from haemorrhage
and severe anaemia. In recognition of this, WHO adopted a number of
resolutions urging Member States to organize their blood services in a
manner that will minimize the occurrence of untoward effects while
ensuring adequate safe blood supply for their populations. While yearly
needs are estimated at 8 million units of blood, countries of the Region
are able to collect only a half of the required quantity. The gap to be
filled is still substantial especially in rural areas where the
majority of the population and patients live.
Donating blood is an
act of generosity, solidarity and humanism. Furthermore, this year’s
theme reminds us that it is indeed an act of heroism that brings immense
joy to blood donors whose sole aim is to give back life and hope to
patients who would otherwise not survive without this selfless act.
While thanking all voluntary donors for their loyalty and commitment, I
appeal to everyone to emulate this gesture by donating blood to ensure
that there is adequate supply in health facilities.
As we
commemorate World Blood Donor Day, I call upon countries to accelerate
efforts in mapping out new strategies to convert family donors into
voluntary, regular donors because they constitute the cornerstone of any
reliable and sustainable blood transfusion system. We should also
redouble our efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of
blood donation, the recruitment and retention of new donors to ensure
availability of blood in a sustainable way by blood transfusion
services.
For its part, the WHO Regional Office for Africa will
continue to support all initiatives helping to improve blood transfusion
safety in general and to increase blood collection from voluntary and
regular donors in particular.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Ten facts you need to know about blood transfusion
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day.
Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. The need for blood transfusion may arise at any time in both urban and rural areas. The unavailability of blood has led to deaths and many patients suffering from ill-health. Around 92 million units of blood donations are collected globally every year. Nearly 50% of these blood donations are collected in high-income countries, home to 15% of the world’s population. An adequate and reliable supply of safe blood can be assured by a stable base of regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donors. Regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donors are also the safest group of donors as the prevalence of blood borne infections is lowest among these donors.
Ten facts you need to know about blood transfusion
1. Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health.
However, many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. Every country needs to ensure that blood supplies are sufficient and free from HIV, hepatitis viruses and other infections that can be transmitted through unsafe transfusion.
2. Transfusions are used to support various treatments.
In high-income countries, transfusion is most commonly used to
support advanced medical treatment and complex surgeries like open-heart
surgery and advance trauma care. In low- and middle-income countries it
is used often for management of pregnancy-related complications,
childhood malaria complicated by severe anaemia and trauma-related
injuries.
3. An adequate supply of safe blood can only be assured through regular donation by voluntary unpaid blood donors.
Adequate supply of safe blood can only be assured through regular
donation by voluntary unpaid blood donors, because the prevalence of
blood borne infections is lowest among these donors. It is higher among
donors who give blood only as a replacement when it is required for a
family and among those who give blood for money or other forms of
payment.
4. Voluntary unpaid donors account for 100% of blood supplies in 62 countries.
Since the inception of World Blood Donor Day in 2004, 111 countries
have reported an increase in the number of voluntary donations. But in
40 countries, less than 25% of blood supplies come from voluntary unpaid
donors.
5. Around 92 million blood donations are collected globally every year.
About 50% of these are donated in low- and middle-income countries
where nearly 85% of the world’s population lives. The average blood
donation rate is more than 13 times greater in high-income countries
than in low-income countries.
6. Collections at blood centres vary according to income group.
About 8000 blood centres in 159 countries report collecting, on an
average, 10 000 blood donations per centre (range from 20 to almost 500
000). The average annual collection per blood centre is 30 000 in
high-income countries, 7500 in middle-income countries and 3700 in
low-income countries.
7. People in high-income countries donate blood more frequently than in low- or middle-income countries.
The median blood donation rate in high-income countries is 36.4
donations per 1000 people. This compares with 11.6 donations per 1000
people in middle-income countries and 2.8 donations in low-income
countries.
8. Donated blood should always be screened.
All donated blood should always be screened for HIV, hepatitis B,
hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion. Yet in 39 countries not
all donated blood is tested for one or more of these infections. Testing
is not reliable in many countries because of staff shortages, poor
quality test kits, irregular supplies, or lack of basic laboratory
services.
9. A single unit of blood can benefit several patients.
Separating blood into its various components allows a single unit of
blood to benefit several patients and provides a patient only the blood
component which is needed. About 91% of the blood collected in
high-income countries, 72% in middle-income countries and 31% in
low-income countries is separated into blood components.
10. Unnecessary transfusions expose patients to needless risk.
Often transfusions are prescribed when simple and safe alternative
treatments might be equally effective. As a result such a transfusion
may not be necessary. An unnecessary transfusion exposes patients to the
needless risk of infections or severe transfusion reactions.Content Courtesy: WHO
Announcing World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2012
Monday, 11 June 2012
World Development Indicators 2012
Looking for accurate, up-to-date data on development issues? 'World Development Indicators' is the World Bank's premier annual compilation of data about development. This indispensable statistical reference allows you to consult over 800 indicators for more than 150 economies and 14 country groups in more than 90 tables. It provides a current overview of the most recent data available as well as important regional data and income group analysis in six thematic sections: World View, People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links. 'World Development Indicators 2012' presents the most current and accurate development data on both a national level and aggregated globally. It allows you to monitor the progress made toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals endorsed by the United Nations and its member countries, the World Bank, and a host of partner organizations. These goals, which focus on development and the elimination of poverty, serve as the agenda for international development efforts.
World Development Indicators 2012
Rio+20: Concrete outcomes are needed at key forum on sustainable development, Ban says-
Rio+20 must result in ‘concrete’ decisions to advance sustainable development – Ban
 |
| Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) greets journalists before his briefing on the upcoming UN Sustainable Development Conference. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine |
“Rio+20 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make real progress towards the sustainable economy of the future,” Mr. Ban told a press conference
at UN Headquarters in New York, referring to the UN Conference on
Sustainable Development (Rio+20) that will be held in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, from 20 to 22 June.
More than 100 heads of State and government, along with thousands of parliamentarians, mayors, UN officials, Chief Executive Officers and civil society leaders are expected to attend Rio+20 to shape new policies to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and advance social equity and environmental protection.
The gathering follows on from the Earth Summit in 1992, also held in Rio de Janeiro, during which countries adopted Agenda 21 – a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection.
Mr. Ban said that there is still much work ahead, but foundations are in place for agreement on the remainder of the negotiating text that is expected to become the outcome of the conference.
“I expect the negotiators to accomplish this in the days before ministers and world leaders arrive in Rio. Leaders will then act to resolve all outstanding issues,” he stated. “Their job is to achieve renewed political commitment for sustainable development. We aspire to nothing less than a global movement for generational change.”
Negotiators concluded the last round of Rio+20 preparatory talks – focussed on the gathering’s outcome document – in New York last Saturday, and they have now reached agreement on more than 20 per cent of the document, with many additional paragraphs close to agreement.
The Secretary-General cited several “concrete outputs” he expected from Rio+20, which he said will improve the lives of people around the world.
The first is to agree to define a path to an inclusive green economy that will lift people from poverty and protect the global environment, he said, adding that this requires international collaboration, investment, and an exchange of experiences and technology among countries.
Second, leaders should agree to define sustainable development goals with clear and measurable targets and indicators. These so-called “SDGs” will be a central part of the post-2015 global development framework, he stated.
Also needed are decisions on key elements of the institutional framework for sustainable development, as well as strong, action-oriented outcomes on a wide range of cross-cutting areas, such as food security and sustainable agriculture, oceans, gender equality and women’s empowerment, education and energy.
Progress is also required in the area of implementation, including reaffirming past commitments and initiatives on trade, financing for development, technology transfer and capacity building, the UN chief said.
In addition, more partnerships with civil society and the private sector – strategic alliances that can galvanize global public support and drive change – are important.
“Ultimately, Rio+20 will be measured in the transformation it sets in motion – the lives it changes for the better,” said Mr. Ban.
“Our hopes for future prosperity, health and stability rest on finding a path that integrates the economic, social and environmental pillars of development,” he added. “Sustainable development is an idea whose time has come. It is the future we want.”
Following the latest round of negotiations in New York, the next and final preparatory talks will be held in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 15 June, just ahead of the Conference.
“I sense a real dialogue – a real willingness to find common ground,” said the Secretary-General of Rio+20, Sha Zukang, in the wake of the New York talks. “This spirit is encouraging and we must carry it to Rio.”
Addressing a press conference at UN Headquarters today, the President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, said that it is important that the negotiations focus on the “big picture” and not just individual national interests or individual group interests.
“Rio+20 is about setting the world on the right course for sustainable growth for future generations,” he told reporters. “The real work will begin after the conference is over, when we will need concrete action on various key areas of concern.”
More than 100 heads of State and government, along with thousands of parliamentarians, mayors, UN officials, Chief Executive Officers and civil society leaders are expected to attend Rio+20 to shape new policies to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and advance social equity and environmental protection.
The gathering follows on from the Earth Summit in 1992, also held in Rio de Janeiro, during which countries adopted Agenda 21 – a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection.
Mr. Ban said that there is still much work ahead, but foundations are in place for agreement on the remainder of the negotiating text that is expected to become the outcome of the conference.
“I expect the negotiators to accomplish this in the days before ministers and world leaders arrive in Rio. Leaders will then act to resolve all outstanding issues,” he stated. “Their job is to achieve renewed political commitment for sustainable development. We aspire to nothing less than a global movement for generational change.”
Negotiators concluded the last round of Rio+20 preparatory talks – focussed on the gathering’s outcome document – in New York last Saturday, and they have now reached agreement on more than 20 per cent of the document, with many additional paragraphs close to agreement.
The Secretary-General cited several “concrete outputs” he expected from Rio+20, which he said will improve the lives of people around the world.
The first is to agree to define a path to an inclusive green economy that will lift people from poverty and protect the global environment, he said, adding that this requires international collaboration, investment, and an exchange of experiences and technology among countries.
Second, leaders should agree to define sustainable development goals with clear and measurable targets and indicators. These so-called “SDGs” will be a central part of the post-2015 global development framework, he stated.
Also needed are decisions on key elements of the institutional framework for sustainable development, as well as strong, action-oriented outcomes on a wide range of cross-cutting areas, such as food security and sustainable agriculture, oceans, gender equality and women’s empowerment, education and energy.
Progress is also required in the area of implementation, including reaffirming past commitments and initiatives on trade, financing for development, technology transfer and capacity building, the UN chief said.
In addition, more partnerships with civil society and the private sector – strategic alliances that can galvanize global public support and drive change – are important.
“Ultimately, Rio+20 will be measured in the transformation it sets in motion – the lives it changes for the better,” said Mr. Ban.
“Our hopes for future prosperity, health and stability rest on finding a path that integrates the economic, social and environmental pillars of development,” he added. “Sustainable development is an idea whose time has come. It is the future we want.”
Following the latest round of negotiations in New York, the next and final preparatory talks will be held in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 15 June, just ahead of the Conference.
“I sense a real dialogue – a real willingness to find common ground,” said the Secretary-General of Rio+20, Sha Zukang, in the wake of the New York talks. “This spirit is encouraging and we must carry it to Rio.”
Addressing a press conference at UN Headquarters today, the President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, said that it is important that the negotiations focus on the “big picture” and not just individual national interests or individual group interests.
“Rio+20 is about setting the world on the right course for sustainable growth for future generations,” he told reporters. “The real work will begin after the conference is over, when we will need concrete action on various key areas of concern.”
News Tracker: past stories on this issue
Rio+20: Concrete outcomes are needed at key forum on sustainable development, Ban says
Meet Me in Rio : 13-22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8 Jun 2012 - Leaders from around the world explain why they are going to Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 to attend the Rio+20 conference and the Corporate Sustainability Forum, hosted by the UN Global Compact. (15-18 June 2012, Windsor Barra Hotel, Rio de Janeiro)
Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Meet Me in Rio
8 Jun 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlights the role of the private sector leading up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and invites business to participate in the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, organized by the UN Global Compact.
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Oceans
Keywords: Oceans | marine environment | regional seas |
Thematic Areas:Ecosystem management
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)