“A lot more needs to be done” to help boost blood donation in many low-income countries, according to the World Health Organization, (WHO).

Speaking on World Blood Donor Day, marked annually on 14 June, Ed Kelley, WHO Director for Service Delivery and Safety, said that “things were going in the right direction” overall.

He added that if just 1 per cent of the population in developing countries were donating blood regularly, “they would be able to meet basic requirements”.

He said WHO was working hard to help develop more robust systems.

Cristina Silveiro asked Mr Kelley why there was general reluctance in many parts of the world to give blood.

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