“In the frontline missions of Doctors Without Borders, the issue of securing blood for transfusions has been a persistent challenge. Blood transfusions can mean the difference between life and death. I recall a seven-year-old girl who was rushed into emergency surgery after an airstrike during my deployment in Yemen. The operation was technically successful, but her life could not be saved due to the lack of available blood for transfusion. For those of us present—surgeons, anesthetists, and anesthesia nurses—the bitterness of that moment still lingers. In cases of severe bleeding, the availability of blood for transfusion is often what decides a person’s fate.”

“Blood is synonymous with life. Without it, death is inevitable. Especially in life-or-death situations, blood becomes absolutely critical. Sharing blood is sharing life, and storing blood is akin to preserving life itself. A society abundant in blood supplies for transfusion is a hallmark of progress. Donating blood is the first step toward that vision.”

life, donation, survival