As South Sudan joins the rest of the world to mark the World Blood Donor day, the World Health Organization say there is an improvement in blood donation in the country over the last two years.

The WHO says more than 1, 000 South Sudanese have donated blood since 2014, which is ten times higher than the previous years.

WHO representative, Abdul-munim Osman says there is still a need to donate more blood in to save more lives.

“You don’t have to be paid for saving somebody’s life [because] what you receive is more than that can be compensated by any amount of money,” Mr Osman said this morning at an occasion to mark the day in Juba.

At the same occasion, the Minister of Health, Riek Gai Kok said the government was planning to open up more blood banks in some parts of the country.

The World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually on the 14th of June.

It is meant to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.