Africa is able to cater for only fifty percent of its annual requirement of blood despite demand in the continent being high, the World Health Organization disclosed on Tuesday on the occasion of ‘World Blood Donor Day.’
‘‘From 2013 to 2016, blood donations rose from about 3.9 million units to 4.4 million units. That is 11.4 percent of increase, but this will still cover only around 50 percent of the annual requirement of blood. So far, only 21 countries are collecting 80 to 100 percent of their national blood needs through voluntary unpaid blood donors, the Who said in a statement published on its website.
The global health body also blamed the shortage of blood in most African countries on the weak implementation of policies, and lack of systems and structures to ensure an adequate supply of safe blood and blood products to meet the needs of all patients requiring transfusion.
This year’s theme “Blood connects us all” focuses on thanking blood donors and highlights the dimension of “sharing” and “connection” between blood donors and patients.
The slogan “Share life, give blood” has been adopted to draw attention to the role that voluntary donation systems play in encouraging people to care for one another and promote community cohesion.