10 facts on blood
June 2010
Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but millions of patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. Many people die because safe blood is not available even in some urban health-care facilities.
More than 93 million units of blood donations are collected globally every year. About 50% of these are donated in low- and middle-income countries where nearly 85% of the world’s population lives.
Family or replacement donors and paid donors still remain a significant source of blood for transfusion in many developing and transitional countries. Adequate stocks of safe blood can only be assured by regular donation by voluntary unpaid blood donors, because the prevalence of bloodborne infections is lowest among these donors.
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Events
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Preliminary Consultation on H5N1 Research Issues
16–17 February 2012 -
World Water Day
22 March 2012 -
World TB Day
24 March 2012
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The world health report
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International Health Regulations (IHR)
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