20 blood donors - 12 women and eight men - were recognised for their regular blood donations for World Blood Donor Day.

The donors were each given a silver plaque by the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, in recognition of the 150 bags of blood they donated altogether (50 and 100 hundred bags respectively between the women and men).

These blood donors were invited to San Anton Palace for a special ceremony marked for World Blood Donor Day, which has been celebrated every year on 14 June since being established in 2004. This special day exists to raise awareness about the constant need for blood donations to save lives.

During this ceremony, President Spiteri Debono acknowledged the blood donors' contribution and altruism. She expressed her appreciation towards them and their efforts, as well as to their relatives and the professionals working at the blood transfusion service, and appealed for greater awareness on the need for blood donations - especially among young people.

During this same ceremony, two testimonies were heard from people who are still alive thanks to blood donors. Two poems were also read; one was written by a blood donor and another was an expression of gratitude from a patient who received "the superhero's" blood.

The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2025 was "give blood, give hope: together we save lives."

The National Blood Transfusion Service strives to increase the number of blood donors while appreciating those who regularly give donations.

The date for World Blood Donor Day commemorates the date of birth of Karl Landsteiner. The Austrian-American immunologist and pathologist discovered the ABO blood groups back in 1901.