Young Blood Donors

Currently half a million people in the country donate blood at least twice a year, said Ali Akbar Pour-Fathollah, head of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), adding “we have plans to encourage young people under the age of 23 to become regular blood donors.” Explaining further, he said, “Since 1994, immunization of all newborns against hepatitis B was made mandatory, so people below 23 years are less likely to have the disease,” Salamat News Website reported. Established in 1974, IBTO is the only authorized center for collection and distribution of blood and its byproducts in Iran.