The World Health Organization, WHO has said there are still around 7million patients who require blood in African countries every year.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti stated this during this year’s World Blood Donor Day 2021 tagged “Give blood and keep the world beating”.
Moeti explained that over the past years, blood stocks decreased in the African Region as movement restrictions and fears of infection hindered people from accessing donation sites.
She also stated that demand for blood also decreased by 13% with the suspension of routine surgeries in some countries and fewer people seeking care in health facilities as the average blood donation rate dropped by 17% and the frequency of blood drives reduced by 25%.
Hence, safe blood and its transfusion are key aspects in providing quality care to save mothers haemorrhaging during childbirth and people with serious injuries.
Moeti further said WHO has pledged its efforts to work with stakeholders to improve access to quality blood supplies.
“WHO have partnered with the Coalition of Blood for Africa (CoBA), launched in November 2020, to drive this agenda, including engaging the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) and the private sector.
“The BloodSafe Program funded by the United States of America National Institutes of Health supports research to enhance availability of safe blood in African countries. Through this partnership, research projects in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi are underway in collaboration with universities in the United States.
“In partnership with Facebook, we have set-up a Regional Blood Donations feature, which connects people with nearby blood banks. The tool is now live in 12 countries and over 3.8 million Facebook users have signed-up to be notified of blood donation opportunities.”
She encouraged more young people to donate blood to save lives and to inspire their peers and families to do so too. In some countries, in line with national guidance, people aged 16 and 17 can donate blood with their parent’s or guardian’s consent, and in all countries anyone over 18 can save someone’s life by donating blood.
