Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME – BLOOD SAVES LIVESCôte d’IvoireThis West African nationcelebrated, along with the rest ofthe world, World Health Day on7 April 2000, a day devoted tosafe blood transfusion. Abidjan,Bouaké, Korhogo and Daloa—our four towns with a BloodTransfusion Centre—were thenatural choice for the focus ofactivities. Each location followed adesignated programme as follows:● global gathering followed by ablood donor march;● operation “give blood”;● official speeches;● a show on blood donation;● prize-giving ceremony for loyaland worthy blood donors;● cocktail and closing ceremony.A capital affairIn Abidjan, first city of the nation,more than a thousand blooddonors assembled at the SaintPaul Cathedral under thepatronage of the Minister ofHealth and Social Affairs toembark on their 5 km marchtowards the Esplanade of theTown Hall. On this bright Fridaymorning, walkers sportingcolourful T-shirts with the “safeblood starts with me” logoadvanced to the catchy rhythm ofthe fanfare. All ten communes ofthe capital were represented, andcarried banners advertisingslogans such as “Someone’s blood,another one’s life” “To give blood isan act of brotherly love” or again“Blood: a shared lifeline”.Walkers received a special escortfrom the metropolitan PoliceForce, the Emergency Medical AidService (SAMU), the Fire Brigadeand aides from the Red Crossthroughout the entire routetowards their destination.On arrival, they were greeted bydignitaries who had preparedspecial messages for the occasion.The Mayor of Abidjan’s representativewas the first to applaud theoccasion, followed by thePresidents of the National Unionof Voluntary Blood Donors and theIvorian Red Cross, theWHO Country Representativeand culminatingwith that of the Ministerof Health and SocialAffairs of the nation. Atthe heart of all theseaddresses were the needto motivate and retainblood donors, tostrengthen bloodtransfusion services,nationwide praise forblood donors and theircritical role in assuringgood health in the population ofCôte d’Ivoire.Integrated in the official tone ofthis commemorative event werespecially created performances bytalented local artists, who drewattention to the vital need forvoluntary blood donations, andwho were supported in theirefforts by the intermittent playingof enchanting melodies offered byWorld Health Day 2000 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire15 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME