Rwanda needs an average of 40,000 units of blood to meet patients’ demand.The acting Director General of Regional Centre for blood transfusion in Kigali, Dr. Swaibu Katare, said this during a news conference in preparation to mark the World Blood Donor Day that is being held today. Katare said the centre aims to collect sufficient and quality blood from donors. The centre managed to distribute 35,118 units of blood from 37,811 units of blood it collected in 2011 down from 41,000 units it collected in 2010. The proportion of discarded blood declined from 10.6 to 6.86 per cent.One unit of blood is equivalent to 450 mili litres and according to medics; one unit of blood can help three patients.“There is need to build wider public awareness of the need for regular blood donation throughout the year in order to maintain adequate supply of blood for all patients requiring transfusion.”There are only five blood transfusion centres in the country, located in Kigali, Butare, Musanze, Karongi and another in Rwamagana. According to Katare, the fall in demand for blood is attributable to a drop in road accidents and the government’s fight against malaria that has realised an 80 per cent drop rate in prevalence. He, however, appealed to the public to continue donating blood to save lives within the East African region.Only people above 50 kilograms are allowed to donate blood. Officials at NCBT allayed fears that those who frequently donate blood and cease to do so would develop blood cancer.They announced new incentives to encourage regular blood donation.“We wouldn’t like to disclose the kind of gifts or other sorts of incentives. We only encourage existing low-risk voluntary donors to give blood regularly, and encourage new people to donate blood on voluntary basis so that individuals maintain healthy lifestyles besides being safe to donate blood,” Katare said.Alphonse Karemera, a patient who is on the list of blood recipients at Polyclinic Polyfam clinic located in the Remera suburb of Kigali narrated his ordeal: “I almost lost my life in a road accident after losing a lot of blood. But my blood levels were restored for which I am so thankful.” Katare said lack of haemoglobin in most blood that is donated is still a major problem in the country. Haemoglobin is a protein-based part of red blood cells that transfers oxygen throughout the body.The quantity of haemoglobin requires people to lead healthy lifestyles by having balanced diets and carrying out regular physical exercises.The theme of this year’s World Blood Donors Day is “Every blood donor is a Hero”. The event is aimed at appreciating people who voluntarily donate blood.The celebration also marks the birth of the late Karl Landsteiner who was born on June 14, 1868. Landsteiner was an Austrian biologist and physician remembered for having first distinguished the main blood groups in 1900, developing the modern system of blood group classification as well as his identification of the presence of agglutinins in the blood. He is also credited as the first person to discover the polio virus.
