The World Health Organisation marks 14 June as World Blood Donor Day, that is observed and celebrated across the world through campaigns and events in view to raise awareness and to thank the donors for saving lives. Thought of as a selfless act, donating blood is a noble cause indeed. And yet very few of us take the time out to donate blood at blood donation drives or attend blood donor awareness campaigns.
Sources reveal that more than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day while a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. However, many people feel that donating blood makes them feel weak, the thread of truth here arises from the fact that it takes a day or two to replenish the fluid volume in the body and three months for the regeneration of red cells to donate more blood.
In order to encourage and motivate people to go forward and donate blood, that would save lives of people, brands actively initiated campaigns that spoke on the noble deed of blood donation. Below are few of the campaigns done by brands exclusively for world blood donor’s day, this year:
WATConsult
BOLD, a transgender modelling agency and WATConsult, the digital and social media agency from Dentsu Aegis Network India, joined hands to launch a campaign titled, #whydontyou.
The campaign revolves around how transgenders are not allowed to donate blood but what is stopping others. Why don’t the people who have the privilege to donate blood do so. The campaign involves a video featuring Rudrani Chettri Chauhan, a transgender who went against all odds to build India’s first LGBT modelling agency.
Commenting on the campaign Rajiv Dingra, Founder and CEO, WATConsult said, “We wanted to raise awareness about the need of Blood Donation and urge each one of us to become a donor sooner. #whydontyou is simple a step towards the same. It’s a message to donate blood from those who are not allowed to those who don’t.”
MTV
Channels MTV and MTV Beats have taken the onus of spreading awareness amongst the youth of the country of the need for blood donors. The channels have created two films for World Blood Donors Day and through these films they are encouraging youngsters to donate blood voluntarily because every second of every day, people all around the world depend on blood donation to survive.These 30 seconder quirky videos aim to captivate the attention of the youth through humor.
Commenting on the initiative, Navin Shenoy, Head Marketing, Youth Entertainment, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. said, “Every minute there is someone who is in need of blood and hence we are trying to get the banks equipped to help more people in need. The video is created keeping in mind our audiences; it is light hearted, humorous and yet conveys our message of being responsible without being preachy.”
Facebook had launched Blood Donations on Facebook, a new centre where people in India can find opportunities to donate nearby. The organisation had also partnered with organizations across India, including the National Blood Transfusion Council, a division of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Giants Welfare Foundation, to set up over 2,000 blood donation events on Facebook this month, which will be featured in the new Blood Donation center.
Speaking on the initiative, Hema Budaraju, Product Lead, Health, Facebook said, “We hope that by raising awareness and letting people know where and when they can donate, we can increase blood donations and contribute to a more sustainable blood supply.”
Terumo Penpol
On account the Word donors day , C Padmakumar, Managing Director, Terumo Penpol commented, “The regular voluntary blood donor is critical to the success of a blood transfusion service. Blood transfusions are critical for patients undergoing surgery or being treated for some chronic diseases and for some cancers. We are committed to advancing a safe blood supply globally.
Glenealges Global Hospitals
Dr Surekha Devi A, HOD & Specialist for Haematology & Transfusion Department at Glenealges Global Hospitals says, “Every few seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood- Be there for somebody. Give Blood and Share Life.”
This world blood donors day this year saw brands that were proactive in encouraging and facilitating people to save lives through this simple act of humanity.
