World blood donor day was celebrated nation wide on the 14th of June 2009, at the Bdho General Construction in Asmara under the theme, ‘Improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supplies through the achievements of 100 percent voluntary-non remunerated donation of blood and blood components.’

The overall objective of the Day is to increase the awareness of the public concerning the concept of altruistic blood donation and improve blood service delivery at country level.

Dr. Yifdeamlak Tesfamariam, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Center, in his speech during the Day, said that the World Blood Donor Day has been established to celebrate and thank voluntary blood donors for their gift of life responding to the demand of blood all over the world.

He said, “Voluntary blood donors are not only the source of the safest blood but also the base for continual and inexhaustible supply for the demand of blood.”

Dr. Yifdeamlak said that the number of countries that use 100 percent voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation has been increasing through the past few years. In 2002, only 39 countries were based on voluntary blood donors as a source and the number has grown to 56 in 2006.

For those countries which are not totally based on voluntary blood donors, the theme of the Day urges them to avoid family and paid blood donations. And for those who are striving for self sufficiency in blood collection and those who already are, the theme encourages further success.

Dr. Brhane Ghebretensae, Director General of Health Service, in his speech during the event said that since independence, the Ministry of Health has been striving to assure blood availability as part of securing the publics’ health.

Members of the Bdho General Construction organized every aspect concerning blood donation of the Day’s events to entertain the guests. Representative of the Company and representative of regular blood donors presented speech during the event.

The members also prepared a song “Through our effort we build roads, through our blood donation we save lives.”as a gift for the National Blood Transfusion Center.

June 14th is designated as a world blood donor day by World Health Organization (WHO), International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), International Federation of Blood Donors (FIODS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in an honor of those who donate blood out of concern for human life.