Letter from the Editor

June 14 is the day chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) to observe World Blood Donor Day. On this day we honour those who regularly give blood, most often voluntarily and without remuneration, in order to save the lives of others, usually strangers. According to 2008 figures, 62 countries reported collecting 100% of their blood supplies from voluntary, unpaid donors.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. It is vital that blood banks keep reserves of whole blood of each type to deal with disasters, emergencies and accidents. It is also important to retain a supply of blood-derived products such as red blood cells, plasma or platelets.