KPL
The Lao PDR is commemorating World Blood Donor Day 2025 with a nationwide awareness campaign and event held under the global theme, “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
(KPL)The Lao PDR is commemorating World Blood Donor Day 2025 with a nationwide awareness campaign and a central event held under the global theme, “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
The blood donation was held on June 12 at ITECC Mall in Vientiane, with the attendance of Mr. Khamlavan Chanthalavan, President of the Lao Red Cross; Dr. Phaivan Keopaseuth, Deputy Minister of Health; along with representatives from development partners and blood donors from both the public and private sectors.
Mr. Khamlavan emphasized that World Blood Donor Day, observed annually on June 14, is an opportunity to express deep gratitude to those who voluntarily donate blood and to promote awareness of the ongoing need for safe, sufficient blood supplies.
“There is no substitute for human blood,” he said. “Voluntary blood donors offer hope and help save countless lives.”
The event aims to encourage regular and first-time donors alike, while also fostering community engagement, compassion, and solidarity. The initiative seeks to mobilize multi-sectoral support—from government institutions to development partners—to ensure a sustainable and inclusive national blood donation system.
World Blood Donor Day was officially designated by the 58th World Health Assembly in 2005, with 14 June selected to Karl Landsteiner, the Austrian biologist who discovered the ABO blood group system—a discovery that laid the foundation for modern safe blood transfusion practices.
In alignment with this year’s observance, Laos has launched an ambitious national blood donation campaign, targeting the collection of 80,400 units of blood in 2025—34,000 units from central areas and 46,400 units from provinces. This effort is part of a broader strategy to reach 120,000 units by 2030, prioritizing voluntary, non-remunerated donations in accordance with international best practices.
Health officials emphasize that expanding public participation in blood donation is key to ensuring a stable, safe, and sufficient blood supply. Beyond medical necessity, the act of donating blood also symbolizes solidarity, social responsibility, and national unity.
KPL
