President urges healthy people to donate blood to save lives

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi has urged all healthy adult men and women in the country to donate blood as frequently as possible, as an act of piety to save lives.

He made the appeal in his message on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, being observed today.

The President said regular blood donation by a sufficient number of healthy people is needed to ensure its availability whenever and wherever it is needed.

World Blood Donor Day, an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) is being observed to spread awareness about the importance of blood donation. 

According to WHO, many developing countries face severe shortage of blood. Especially during COVID-19, plasma and blood donations have been the beacon of hope for those who were suffering from the novel coronavirus.

The day is celebrated on the birthday of an Austrian biologist and physician, Karl Landsteiner who is the founder of modern blood transfusion.