Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital calls for people to donate blood at their local clinic this World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day takes place on 14 June each year.

The Day was created to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion; highlight the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems; support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations and other nongovernmental organizations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programmes by reinforcing national and local campaigns.

The day also provides an opportunity to call to action governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors and to manage access to blood and the transfusion of those who require it.

Blood and blood products are essential resources for effective management of women suffering from bleeding associated with pregnancy and childbirth; children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria and malnutrition; patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions; victims of trauma, emergencies, disasters and accidents; as well as patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.

The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital has called for people to donate blood at their local clinic this World Blood Donor Day, highlighting that maternity hospitals across Ireland rely on blood donations every day to care for mothers and babies.

Of all the women who delivered their babies at the Coombe in 2021, 3 in every 100 required a blood transfusion.

This is the equivalent of over 200 women receiving the vital care.

Midwife and Haemovigilance Officer at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, Sonia Varadkar said:

“Donated blood received at the Coombe is a vital resource that is used for sick and premature babies and women every week.

“The blood that we receive from Irish Blood Transfusion Service helps us provide excellent, and at times life-saving care to the women and babies at the Coombe.”