La version francaise est publiee separement aujourd'hui.
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SYNERGY ONLINE:  Bulletins and News Briefs from
The Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH)
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Safe Blood Saves Lives
Message of Dr. George A.O. Alleyne,
Director of the Pan American Health Organization
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World Health Day 2000, commemorated on April 7, focuses on
a safe and adequate blood supply for the millennium.  Our
objectives in the international observance of World Health
Day are to increase the awareness of safe blood issues in
the Americas and encourage voluntary donations of blood;
thorough testing and screening of donated blood, and
appropriate use of blood for transfusions.
We know that the risk of transfusion-transmitted
infections is higher when blood products come from paid or
replacement donors, rather than volunteer and repeat
donors, so we must meet the challenge of promoting
voluntary blood donation through mass communication and
improving the care of potential donors in blood banks. We
want people in the countries to understand and accept
blood donation as a desirable, altruistic act, and health
workers to discourage replacement donation and retain and
educate volunteer donors. People who want to donate blood
should be able to do it in comfortable, clean, attractive
facilities.
The ministers of health of the Americas have adopted the
goal of ensuring that all blood for transfusions is
screened against infection by Hepatitis B and C, syphilis,
Trypanosoma Cruzi, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
They have resolved to give higher priority in their
national health policies to the safety of blood for
transfusion and to promote the development of national
blood programs and transfusion services, based on the
voluntary, repeated donation of blood and on quality
assurance.
Our goal for World Health Day, and for every day, is to
intensify efforts to have more volunteers donate blood and
reduce the numbers of replacement donors and paid donors.
We cannot limit the observance to only one day: blood is
needed every day, so we must ensure the safety of blood
and blood products, and raise awareness of the need for
systematic blood screening. There is no reason for anyone
in the Americas to contract a disease transmitted by blood
transfusion if we all do our part.
To accomplish this, much more is needed. Across the
Americas, we must strengthen national blood banks and
programs; establish regional standards for the quality of
blood banks and transfusion services, as well as for the
blood products used in transfusions; train personnel, and
help obtain the resources needed for safe blood products
and their use in the population that needs them.
I thank all of you who have donated blood and helped save
lives, and ask that you continue to do so. I urge those of
you who have not donated blood to contact your local blood
bank and volunteer, so you can help us build a safe,
sustainable blood supply and continue saving the lives of
those who need blood transfusions.
Remember that safe blood starts with me, and safe blood
saves lives.
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REMINDER: Parliamentary Breakfast and Forum
WORLD HEALTH DAY - APRIL 7th, 2000, 7:30am to 9:30 am
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You are cordially invited by The Canadian Society for
International Health and The Pan American Health
Organization to A Parliamentary Breakfast and Forum
Friday, April 7, 2000 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m.
to mark World Health Day
Location: Parliamentary Restaurant,Sixth Floor, Centre
Block Houses of Parliament, Ottawa - Theme: Safe Blood
Saves Lives - Sponsor & Chair: Dr. Carolyn Bennett, M.P.
Panel includes: - Lynda Cranston, CEO, Canadian Blood
Services - Dr. David Brandling-Bennett, MD, Deputy
Director, Pan American Health Organization - Dr. Robert
Peterson, MD, Associate Executive Director, Health
Canada's Therapeutic Products Division - David Page, past
president, Canadian Hemophilia Society and chair of CHS's
Blood Safety Committee
Breakfast is complimentary but seating is limited.  If
you plan to attend, please leave a message, giving your
name and title, at  (613) 241-5785, by 4 p.m. on April 5
(this is needed for Hill security and catering).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - APRIL 7, 2000
Safe Blood Saves Lives - World Health Day 2000
World Health Day 2000 rallies the Americas on blood safety
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World Health Day 2000, focusing on the critical issue of
safe blood, is being observed today throughout the
Americas and the world, with the theme: Safe Blood Starts
With Me, Safe Blood Saves Lives.
The focus of the initiative in the Americas is to
encourage more blood donations and raise the awareness of
communities everywhere about the importance of having a
safe and adequate blood supply at all times, said Dr.
George A.O. Alleyne, Director of the Pan American Health
Organization.
"We know that the risk of transfusion-transmitted
infections is higher when blood products come from paid or
replacement donors, rather than volunteer and repeat
donors, so we must meet the challenge of promoting
voluntary blood donation," said Dr. Alleyne.
"We want people in the countries to understand and accept
blood donation as a desirable, altruistic act, and health
workers to discourage replacement donation and retain and
educate volunteer donors," he added.
Safe and adequate blood supplies are needed in every
country, Dr. Alleyne said, yet some lack the necessary
infrastructure to manage blood collection and
distribution. In addition, wars, civil unrest or natural
disasters can place severe strains on blood supplies.
"It is critical for all countries to join in the effort to
raise awareness of the importance of safe, adequate blood
supplies and for people everywhere donate blood at least
twice a year. Safe blood, without any infectious agents,
can only come through adequate screening and testing of
blood. All citizens of the Americas must be assured of
receiving safe blood when they need it," Dr. Alleyne said.
World Health Day, observed annually on April 7 in the 191
member countries of the United Nations, was established by
the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide a forum for
discussion about health conditions worldwide.   Each year
World Health Day focuses on a different health issue of
critical importance to all nations of the world.  Past
themes have included cardiovascular health, injuries and
violence, oral health, healthy cities/communities,
immunization, infectious disease, maternal health and
healthy aging.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which serves
as the regional office of WHO for the Americas, works to
improve health and raise living standards in all the
countries of the Americas. The Canadian Society for
International Health (CSIH) serves as PAHO's technical
representative in Canada.
For more information, contact CSIH at 241-5785, Ext. 305,
or visit the CSIH website at http://www.csih.org
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The Canadian Society for International Health gratefully
acknowledges the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
for their financial support of Synergy Online.
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This document is available, with full formatting, at:
http://www.csih.org/synergy/synergy.html
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