NEWS & VIEWS

Of the estimated 4,000,941 births/year, 118,428 will be confronted with severe PPH requiring blood transfusion. The estimated total yearly value of life years lost for the three countries combined would be 57,104,042 USD. The total cost to provide adequate blood supply (13 units/patient) was 33,781,945 USD, meaning that blood transfusion in PPH results in 23,322,097 USD saved with savings starting from the first year onwards in Kenya and Ghana, and from the second year onwards in Ivory Coast.

Conclusion: In Kenya, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, increased investment in blood supply would likely provide large cost savings in less than two years.

World Blood Donor Day is a time when the world comes together to celebrate blood donors and create greater awareness on the need for safe sustainable blood and blood products for transfusion and on the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors to make national health systems.

Brazzaville – Blood donation has fallen by 17% in the African region in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused widespread disruptions to key health services, lives and livelihoods.

World Blood Donor Day is marked today. An analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that the frequency of blood drives in the African region has dropped by 25% and demand for blood declined by 13%, with the suspension of routine surgeries in some countries and fewer people seeking care in health facilities. Around 7 million people need blood transfusion every year in the region.

• Musician Pete Townshend has given permission for his classic song ‘Give Blood’ (hear on Spotify and YouTube) to be used for the first time to promote blood donation on 14 June. Global Blood Fund, a charity focused on encouraging voluntary blood donation, has produced world-music interpretations in multiple languages for
international use to inspire a new generation of blood donors.

• World Blood Donor Day is one of only 9 official WHO Global Health Days, celebrating each year the vital contributions of tens of millions of blood donors around the world in enabling hospital procedures and saving lives. This year’s event is especially important as the global pandemic has devastated worldwide blood collection.