Kathmandu, Apr. 7 :World Health Day-2000 is being celebrated today across the world with the slogan “Safe Blood Starts With Me.”

World Health Day is observed every year on April 7 at the call of the World Health Organisation (who) with a view to raising public awareness about health.

In the present context of more than 50 percent of school-going age children in developing countries being found to be suffering from anaemia and diseases resulting from it, the slogan “Safe Blood Starts With Me” has been chosen to show importance of blood for human life.

Globally, there is deep concern about the growing problem of infections like hiv/aids, hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis and malaria induced by blood transfusion. Only by ensuring safe blood can their incidence be reduced and the people protected.

In a message on the occasion of World Health Day, Health Minister Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said blood is life because safe blood is essential for man after he is born.

Stating that safe blood may be needed any time, in accidents and injuries, for sick people and pregnant women, Dr. Yadav said we must take precautions to keep our blood safe.

The health minister also urged parents to give iron-rich nutritious food to their children to keep them safe from diseases resulting from anaemia.

Noting that blood donors should be healthy and give only safe blood to others to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, Dr. Yadav observed that individuals, families and the society have a great responsibility in keeping their environment in which they grow safe and clean.

On the occasion, who Southeast Asia regional director Dr. Uton Muchtar Rafei said the who has dedicated the World Health Day in this new century to safe blood.

Blood is perhaps the most precious life resource, a vital defence mechanism and the essential carrier of oxygen needed by the human body, he said, adding that an important strategy would be to replace all professional blood donors with regular, voluntary blood donors.

In the message, Dr. Uton noted that it is also important that blood transfusion is prescribed only when essential and only rational use of available blood can ensure the supply of safe blood.