By 2006, 79 percent of total blood donations in Africa were from voluntary donors and the target for 2012 for African countries is to collect more than 80 percent of blood donations from voluntary non-remunerated donors, according to a WHO official said.
On the occasion of the World Blood Donor Day, which falls on Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa, Luis G. Sambo, said it is gratifying to note that an increasing number of countries in the African region have committed themselves to provide safe blood to their populations by developing and operationalizing policies on blood safety.
Sambo said in a press release, due to these policies, clear strategic directions and the WHO regional strategy on blood safety, an increasing number of countries in the region are collecting blood from voluntary blood donors.
Similar improvement has occurred in testing of blood for diseases known to be transmissible by transfusion and in promotion of appropriate clinical use of blood, according to Sambo.
These encouraging advances, however, need to be consolidated and improved in order to meet the blood requirements of the region, estimated at about 8 million units per year for a population of over 773 million, he said.
He urged donors to continue to donate regularly so as to ensure sustainable availability of the gift of blood to all deserving patients.
"Health authorities and partners should continue to be involved in recruitment and management of blood donors, encouraging and requesting them to donate regularly. They should create mechanisms as well as conducive and enabling environments that will motivate blood donors to participate periodically," he said.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article