The WHO World Blood Donor Day campaign theme for 2024 is “20 Years of Celebrating Giving, Thank You Blood Donors!”. The campaign theme of NBTS Sri Lanka for this year’s World Blood Donor Day is, “Walk in to save lives”, with the aim of increasing the in-house donations, improving safety of blood donors and quality of blood & blood products.
The idea is to focus on the contribution an individual donor can make to improve health for others in the community. Blood donations are needed all over the world to ensure individuals and communities have access to safe and quality-assured blood and blood products in both normal and emergency situations. Through the campaign, we call on more people all over the country to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly at blood banks.
NBTS has planned the following to meet the Global objectives as declared by the WHO.
- National Event Held at Nelum Pokuna Theatre – June 14th 2024
The national event for the World Bood Donor day was held with the patronage of Hon Speaker of the parliament Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Hon Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Hon State Minister of Health Dr. Seetha Arambepola and several other key ministerial dignitaries. One thousand (1000) donors and donation campaign organizers representing all cluster centers throughout the country, were felicitated on that day. The main purpose of the event was to officially initiate the Sri Lanka Bone Marrow Transplantation Registry as well as to launch the “Raktha” mobile application for Donors. 
A special award was presented to the artist who designed a unique poster for the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in 1992. This poster has been utilized for over 30 years to raise public awareness about mobile blood drives.
All participants were granted a souvenir, certificate, and plaque. A memorable photograph was also provided to each participant.
- Media Campaign
In conjunction with World Blood Donor Day 2024, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) conducted a media campaign, including a press conference at the National Blood Center. All electronic and print media contributed to the awareness program by allocating time slots from their valuable broadcast schedules. We have developed two short videos aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation and stem cell donation.
- Educational Program for School Children
School children are potential future donors. Through education and proper guidance, we can make them voluntary, regular blood donors upon completion of 18 years of age. NBTS has planned educational programs in schools throughout the country by means of lectures, discussions, dramas and booklets.
- Donor Felicitation
In addition to the One thousand (1000) donors felicitated during the National Event, four thousand (4000) voluntary blood donors will be felicitated across the country at the Cluster Centers. Especially those who contributed to maintain the blood supply during the year 2023.
- Organizer Awareness Program
85% of the blood collection is done via mobile blood donation campaigns. Around five thousand (5000) campaigns are done annually. NBTS has planned to raise the awareness among the Organizers throughout the country and it will be done once a month prior to their respective mobile campaigns.
- Donor Care Program
It is vital to be in good health to become a regular blood donor. NBTS initiated a program to screen the blood donors for non-communicable diseases few years back.
- Staff Training
To maintain a quality and an equitable service it is necessary to have a well-trained staff. They should be assessed periodically and retrained if required. This has been one from the onset of NBTS and it will be continued in the years to come. We have planned to organize twenty (20) training sessions for staff members of all blood banks in the country.
- Hospital Transfusion Committee Meetings (HTC meetings)
It is vital to hold HTC meetings in Hospital blood banks to maintain a good understanding and a good communication between the wards and the blood bank. It helps to provide a better and a quality service to patients in need of blood and blood products. NBTS is planning to hold 100 HTC meetings to cover all the peripheral hospital blood banks during the coming year 2024/2025.
