World Health Organization regional director Matshidiso Moeti has said blood donation in Africa remains low and continues to fall short of demand on the continent.
African countries, he said, collect only 5.2 units of blood per 1,000 people, which is significantly low compared to the 33 units of blood per 1,000 people collected in developed countries.
Ms Moeti said this in a statement issued on Friday to mark the 20th World Blood Donation Day (WBDD) in 2024, the theme of which is: “20 years of celebrating donations: Thank you, blood donors!”
He maintained that the offer in Africa is also below the 10 donations per 1,000 people recommended by the WHO.
“Only 18 out of 47 countries had met the regional goal of at least 80 percent of the blood supply coming from unpaid voluntary blood donors. However, the demand for blood remains constant, while the supply is often insufficient,” he stated.
He noted that countries must address persistent challenges in the availability of safe blood and blood products and, through collective efforts, must raise adequate and sustainable funds and continue to build systems and capacities to increase the rate of blood donation.
He said countries also need to build systems that separate donated blood into its components and can store it for long-term use.
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Blood donation is crucial
Continuing her speech, Ms Moeti described blood transfusion as a critical aspect of healthcare delivery and protection of human life.
He said blood transfusions mainly benefit, among other groups, mothers during childbirth, malnourished and malaria-affected children, victims of trauma and accidents, and patients suffering from sickle cell anemia or any chronic disease.
She said: “Every donation is a ray of hope in someone’s life. There are numerous transformative stories of giving, each unique, but all sharing a common thread of compassion and humanity. We appreciate the gesture and are immensely grateful to all donors in our region and around the world; We owe them a debt of gratitude.
“We join the international community to commemorate the selfless act of donating blood. World Blood Donor Day is not simply a date on the calendar; is a celebration of altruism, empathy and social responsibility. “It is a day to recognize and honor blood donors whose actions help save the lives of others.”
He urged that the health of blood donors also be given priority and that they be provided with the necessary quality of care.
According to her, this is essential to encourage them and generate the commitment and willingness to donate blood regularly.
“I urge our Member States to respect the blood regulatory systems we have put in place and establish a special national moment to inspire citizens to donate blood.
“I encourage donor organizations to support our capacity building efforts for efficient National Blood Transfusion Services.
I recommend that communities support those who donate blood to encourage others to donate. “This has the potential to create an exponential increase in the availability of life-saving donor blood when and where it is needed most,” she added.
WHO’s efforts
Ms Moeti also stated that over the years, WHO has provided technical and financial support to its member states in their efforts to improve the availability, quality and safety of blood products.
He said the organization has developed and implemented policies, guidelines and regulatory systems for blood donation, transfusion, blood components and blood products.
He said the organization has developed the “capacity of national regulatory authorities and National Blood Transfusion Services to execute the effective regulatory oversight and coordination necessary to ensure the implementation of quality standards.
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“Strengthen collaboration with partners to promote WHO leadership in the development and implementation of best practices in blood quality and safety in the region.”
He said the number of countries that have fully developed a national blood policy increased from 37 in 2015 to 43 in 2022.
Additionally, the percentage of countries participating in an external transfusion-transmissible infections (TTI) quality assessment scheme increased from 55.3 percent to 100 percent.
World Blood Donor Day
World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is celebrated on June 14 every year and was first launched in 2004 by the WHO and three other major international organizations.
The organizations are; The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).
The event serves to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary and unpaid blood donors for their life-saving blood donations.
The global theme of World Blood Donor Day changes each year in recognition of the selfless people who donate their blood to people unknown to them.
The theme of the year is: “20 years of celebrating donations: Thank you, blood donors!”
Speaking on the event, Ms Moeti said the 20th anniversary is appropriate to reflect on the achievements recorded so far, address the challenges and imagine a future where safe blood transfusions are universally accessible.
He noted that the blood service that provides patients with access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system.