On June 19, 2024, the Coalition of Blood for Africa (CoBA) hosted a transformative youth symposium in Kenya, commemorating World Blood Donor Day and World Sickle Cell Day. This event brought together 87 young leaders from Kenya, with online contributions from youth in Nigeria and Tanzania, to address the critical issue of blood access in Africa.

The primary goal was to gather innovative ideas from emerging medical professionals, exploring fresh perspectives that could potentially uncover new solutions. By engaging with these young leaders, CoBA aimed to break away from conventional thinking and unearth concrete findings that could revolutionize blood access strategies in the region.

This symposium not only fostered cross-border collaboration among youth but also served as a platform to amplify their voices in shaping the future of healthcare. It underscored CoBA’s commitment to driving impactful change through inclusive dialogue and innovative thinking, paving the way for enhanced blood accessibility, sustainability and healthcare equity across Africa.

Key Achievements:

• Youth Engagement: 87 youth attendees actively participated, sharing their insights and experiences on blood donation and access.
• Cross-Country Voices: Youth from Nigeria and Tanzania joined online, ensuring a diverse and inclusive dialogue.
• Expert Contributions: Presentations from F & S Scientific and Strathmore University provided innovative perspectives on blood research and availability.
• Insightful Discussions: Panel discussions covered crucial topics such as:
  • Blood availability research
  • Policy and advocacy strategies
  • The role of blood in treating malaria, cancer, and postpartum hemorrhage
  • Promoting research about blood disorders
  • The involvement of stakeholders beyond the medical field
• Youth-Led Discussions: Group discussions enabled youth to voice their views on the current state of blood access and propose actionable solutions.

Impact Highlights:

• Youth Perspectives: The symposium successfully gathered valuable insights from the young generation, emphasizing their role as change-makers in addressing blood access challenges.
• Actionable Solutions: The discussions led to concrete suggestions on improving blood donation rates, enhancing policy advocacy, and fostering community engagement.
• Empowerment: By involving youth directly, CoBA empowered the next generation to take an active role in improving blood access across Africa.

Future Steps:

The feedback and ideas generated during the symposium will aim to guide CoBA’s future initiatives. As CoBA, we are committed to incorporating these insights to create more effective strategies for ensuring a sustainable and reliable blood supply in Africa. We aim to bring together youth from each country across the continent,expanding our reach, and increasing awareness and development of innovative solutions. With these combined efforts, we anticipate a significant increase in blood donation rates, ultimately ensuring that access to blood is no longer an issue.