The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a unified appeal on Friday, urging the general public to make "urgent and voluntary" blood donations. This joint action addresses a critical deficit in the national blood supply that is severely impacting hospitals' capacity to save lives.
The appeal was timed ahead of World Blood Donor Day, observed on Saturday (today), which highlights the importance of safe blood products and acknowledges the contributions of unpaid, voluntary donors. The theme for this year's observance is: "Give blood, give hope – together we save lives."
To kick off the campaign, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), in collaboration with WHO, organized a successful blood donation drive that saw nearly 150 volunteers participate.
Dr. Dapeng Luo, the WHO Representative in Pakistan, was one of the first individuals to donate blood at the drive. Speaking at the event, Dr. Luo underscored the significance of the act:
"Voluntary blood donations can save lives and give hope to those in need. With a single donation, each of us can save up to three lives," said Dr. Luo. "Every patient who needs blood should be able to receive it."
He reiterated WHO's commitment to continuing collaboration with the Government of Pakistan to enhance and strengthen the national blood service infrastructure.
