WHO calls for voluntary blood donations

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, the World Health Organization has urged people across Pakistan to donate blood voluntarily, saying the country faces a yearly shortfall of 2.3 million blood donations.

The agency warned that the gap is limiting hospitals’ capacity to treat patients and save lives. In a statement issued before the annual observance, WHO highlighted the pressure the shortage is placing on the healthcare system.

WHO said this year’s World Blood Donor Day is being marked under the slogan One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives. It stressed that donating blood is an act of solidarity and said a single donation can help save up to three lives.

Referring to the scale of the shortage, WHO said it is directly affecting medical care in hospitals across the country.

"This shortage is hampering hospitals' ability to save lives," the organization said.