“I
am…. and I save lives!” No matter who you are, you
can save lives. This is the official slogan promoted for the
Global Launch of the World Blood Donor Day 2006 to pay tribute
to the world’s voluntary blood donors. The celebration
of World Blood Donor Day was jointly hosted by the Thai Red
Cross Society’s National Blood Centre and the ministry
of Public Health on June 14 at the National Blood Centre in
Bangkok.
World Blood Donor Day in Thailand and elsewhere has been celebrated
since 2004 in partnership with the World Health Organization,
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and
the International Society of Blood Transfusion.
The celebration started with a parade of representatives from
the Thai Red Cross Society, the International Federation, the
ministry of Public Health, other partners as well as RH-negative
and 100-time blood donors and youths from Laos, Cambodia, Singapore
and Thailand.
Broadcasted live via Global Network, the official opening ceremony,
which was graciously presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, TRCS’s Executive Vice President,
began with messages read by youth representatives in six languages
(Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Arabic, and Thai) highlighting
the support for voluntary blood donation and the need to serve
as role models for other youths.
“As a key partner in this World Blood Donor Day initiative
and the Youth Camp, the International Federation sees this event
having some far-reaching objectives, all linked directly with
the building of true partnerships with civil society, at the
international, national and local levels,” says Alan Bradbury,
Programme Coordinator at the South East Asia Regional Delegation.
“The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has around 97 million
members, volunteers and staff. Volunteering and voluntary blood
donation has long been at the heart of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent work, particularly in this region. So today, we recognize
and encourage what must be the most trusting partnership of
all volunteering efforts. It is a partnership that results with
a volunteer holding out his/her arm to give their own blood,
almost always for people they will never meet, but for whom
this gesture is life-saving,” he added.
Other activities on the celebration of the World Blood Donor
Day Celebration included galleries. Blood donors had been invited
to send in photos in their day to day occupational setting to
promote the World Blood Donor Day 2006 slogan “I am…and
I save lives”. These photos have been put together on
display to form a “Wall of Humanity”.
Jointly launched with World Blood Donor Day, the first South
East Asia youth blood donor workshop was hosted by the Thai
Red Cross Society’s National Blood Centre for two days
in partnership with the International Federation. It was organized
after the decision made following the 10th colloquium on the
Recruitment of Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors held in
Santiago, Chile to set up Club 25 or Youth Blood Donor Club
(YDC) in every country.
The first South East Asia youth blood donor workshop’s
objectives were to provide a platform where youths in this region
can share their experiences in voluntary blood donation and
establish a regional network among youth donors for information
sharing and capacity building. The aim was also to provide opportunities
for the formation or strengthening of youth donor clubs amongst
national societies. Another objective was to create a youth-to-youth
movement to promote blood donation in this region to reach 100%
voluntary, non-remunerated blood programmes.
Currently, youth donor clubs in the region only existed in the
Philippines and in Singapore. Thai Red Cross has a plan to set
up its own youth donor club later this year.
“The set up of such a club is significantly important
for youths. They will have a sense of belonging and can be motivated
and have a role model to donate blood” says Cheryl Oh,
21, who has donated blood 8 times now.
A participant from Laos, Latsamee Smingvongsa, who is a 19-time
blood donor, adds that the workshop has enabled her to learn
how clubs in other countries have been growing. When she goes
back to Laos, she will encourage the National Blood Centre to
initiate the club to enable young people to work and help promote
blood donation.
Targeting youths aged between 16-25 years old, this year’s
workshop was attended by 19 youths from Laos, Cambodia, Singapore
and Thailand. “There needs to be a follow-up workshop
within the next 12 months to continue the networking building
for a youth donor club so that we know what kind of problems
the youths in each country are facing. Also we can assist them
in creating the networking not only at a country level but also
at an international level,” concludes Cecilia Tan, from
Singapore Red Cross blood programme.
Meanwhile, the concept of an international “Club 25”
programme is being promoted by the International Federation
using the youth pages of the web site : www.ifrc.org/youth/activities/club25/
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| Blood donors had been invited
to send in photos in their day to day occupational setting to
promote the World Blood Donor Day 2006 slogan “I am…and
I save lives”. These photos have been put together on
display to form a “Wall of Humanity” |
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| The
first South East Asia youth blood donor workshop was held
at the same time. |
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| The
workshop aimed to provide a platform for young blood donors
in the region to share experiences and network. |
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| Targeting youths aged between 16-25 years old, this year’s
workshop was attended by 19 youths from Laos, Cambodia, Singapore
and Thailand. |
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