Regional
Strengthening National blood sustainability through structured philanthropy: A community-driven model
Nasim Sadat Hosseini
Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran
Fariba Sarem
Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Davari
Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran
Ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply requires more than advanced technology; it depends on sustained public trust, resilient infrastructure, and a deeply embedded culture of voluntary donation1. As the sole b national authority for blood services, the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO)2 has adopted a structured philanthropy model to reinforce long-term sustainability and system resilience.
Operating across a geographically vast and climatically diverse country, IBTO faces the dual challenge of maintaining the highest safety standards while expanding equitable access in underserved and crisis-prone regions3. To accelerate infrastructure development and enhance service quality, the organization has institutionalized community engagement through provincial Blood Transfusion Benefactors Associations (BTBA), currently active in 17 provinces. These associations strategically align philanthropic contributions with clearly defined technical priorities, including construction of donor centers, laboratory modernization, equipment renewal, and improvement of donor environments.
Beyond financial mobilization, this model strengthens collective ownership of the national blood system and contributes to broader health system resilience by embedding philanthropy within institutional planning frameworks.
Operational Outcomes and Measurable Impact
To translate structured philanthropy into tangible results, IBTO and its provincial associations have formalized partnerships through strategic memorandums of understanding with private companies, public institutions, and benefactor partners. These collaborations have mobilized financial support for national blood donation campaigns, enabled large-scale communication outreach through millions of complimentary text messages, and expanded public awareness via urban advertising spaces and culturally tailored promotional content.
Partnerships have also reinforced infrastructure and crisis preparedness, including procurement and equipping of mobile blood collection units, acquisition of emergency power generators to ensure operational continuity, land purchase, and development of new transfusion centers. Additional contributions include provision of donor health-support products, transportation facilitation initiatives, hospitality services, in-kind and monetary donations, and logistical cooperation for air transportation of blood and blood components.
Collectively, these coordinated efforts have enhanced donor engagement, improved service accessibility, accelerated infrastructure modernization, and strengthened the operational resilience of the national blood transfusion network.
Construction and Equipment of the Gerash Blood Transfusion Center, by BTBA
Donation, Construction, and Equipping of the Khansar Blood Transfusion Center, by BTBA
Engaging the Next Generation: “ABABO” as a Cultural Ambassador
The Blood Transfusion Benefactors Association in Semnan province, established in 2024, illustrates this model in practice. Operating under the motto “Donate Blood, Become a Hero of Lives,” the association advances modern awareness strategies, facilitates donor access through both fixed and mobile collection units, supports infrastructure development, and enhances the overall donor experience.
As part of its cultural innovation strategy, the association introduced “ABABO,” a friendly mascot inspired by the ABO blood group system. Designed as an educational tool for children and adolescents, ABABO integrates storytelling, visual identity, and emotional engagement to frame blood donation as a socially valued and heroic act from an early age. The mascot’s name playfully echoes the ABO system while conveying warmth and approachability. ABABO was officially unveiled at IBTO headquarters in Tehran, underscoring the organization’s commitment to child-centered cultural development as a foundation for long-term sustainability.
Unveiling Ceremony of the ABABO Mascot
Unveiling Ceremony of the ABABO Mascot
References
1. Zolfaghar M, Shahmohammadi A, Mozafari A. Affecting Factors in Attracting Tehran Citizens’ Participation of Blood Donation in the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (Base on the IBTO Public Relations’ Performance). Media Studies. 2023 Jan 21;17(4):45-55.
2. Pourfathollah AA, Hosseini Divkolaye NS, Seighali F. Four decades of National Blood Service in Iran: outreach, prospect and challenges. Transfus Med. 2015 Jun;25(3):138-43.
3. Pakjoo M, Shamsasenjan K, Hosseini S, Pourfathollah AA. Kermanshah earthquake blood supply experience: Turning the risk into opportunity. Am J Disaster Med. 2025;20(1):53-58.
