The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called for stronger efforts to expand voluntary, regular, and unpaid blood donation across the Americas, emphasizing its importance for ensuring safe, sufficient, and timely access to blood for patients in need.
The appeal was made ahead of World Blood Donor Day, observed on June 14, under the global theme “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.” PAHO highlighted that each donation represents a life-saving act of solidarity that strengthens health systems and improves emergency care capacity across the region.
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa stressed that equitable access to safe blood depends on a stable base of voluntary and repeat donors. He noted that while progress has been made, just over half of blood donations in the region—around 51.5 percent—come from voluntary unpaid donors, with the remainder largely sourced from family or replacement donors.
The organization warned that reliance on replacement donations can lead to shortages and limits the ability of health systems to plan effectively. It also pointed out significant disparities in blood availability between countries, with average donation rates still below the level required for full self-sufficiency.
Blood transfusions remain essential for emergency treatments, childbirth complications, surgeries, and chronic disease management. PAHO emphasized that countries with strong voluntary donation systems tend to have more reliable blood supplies, improved safety, and greater resilience during emergencies and disasters.
The agency called on governments in the region to strengthen public policies, improve national blood programs, and promote sustained voluntary donation campaigns. It also encouraged more individuals to become regular donors, highlighting that donating blood is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to save lives.
PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting countries in building safer and more equitable blood systems that ensure access for all patients when needed.
