[00:05.80]April seventh was World Health Day.

[00:09.27]The World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross

[00:14.52]and Red Crescent Societies made blood supply safety the message of the day.

[00:20.82]Hospitals and doctors need safe blood to use in operations and other treatments.

[00:29.02]Safe blood saves lives.

[00:31.95]Every day,thousands of people would die if other people did not give blood.

[00:38.84]Most blood is given to four kinds ofpatientsregnant women who suffer bleeding inside their bodies;

[00:47.20]Children whose blood lacks iron:Accident victims:And people with cancer.

[00:53.89]The World Health Organization says a large maiority of the world population does not have a safe blood supply.

[01:03.97]A WHO study finds that people in poor countries face the most risk from unsafe blood supplies.

[01:12.70]Many of these countries are also places where diseases are spreading most quickly.

[01:20.27]The WHO and the Red Cross and Red Crescent have begun a year-long campaign to improve blood supplies around the world.

[01:30.70]Theh groups want to make clear who should give blood and who should not.

[01:36.63]The experts say you should only give blood if you are healthy and do not have an infection that can be passed through blood.

[01:46.97]Most people can give blood as often as every four months.

[01:52.27]This is importandt because no blood products can be used after thirty-five days in storage.

[02:00.56]Experts say people who do not feel well should not give blood.

[02:05.60]They say pregnant women or women who have been pregnant within the past year should not give blood either.

[02:12.99]They also say people with medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes should not give blood.

[02:21.09]And,people taking some kinds of medicine should not give blood.

[02:26.05]The WHO says blood that is given should always be tested for three diseases-hepatitis B,

[02:36.21]syphilis and the vires that causes AIDS.

[02:40.26]The WHO says blood also should be tested for infecions like hepatitis C,chagas disease and malaria.

[02:50.32]The WHO and Red Cross urging officials not to pay people to give blood.

[02:58.65]Studies have shown that blood is more likely to be unsafe when it comes from a person who is paid for the service.

[03:07.43]The health organizations say new and safe equipment must always be used to collect blood.