Donating a unit of blood, giving life

Globally, last week countries marked the World Blood Donor Day, under the theme “Every blood donor is a hero”.In Rwanda, the event was held in Rubavu district in the Western Province organized by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC).Officials from the Ministry of Health and RBC with the local population shared quite a lot of information about blood donation.However, to cut the long story short, among others, the most important issue was encouraging the population to consider donating blood so as to have enough in blood banks.The most disturbing question however remains if people are really familiar with smartly walking into a blood transfusion centre to donate. “There is need for campaigns to promote the culture of donating blood as it seems some people only think of it when they have a patient who needs blood,” said Bernard Niyonzima, a resident of Kimisagara sector in Nyarugenge district.He explained that even those who have tried doing it are not persistent with speculations that it might cause health problems or diseases, pointing out blood cancer.“People have mixed reactions about donating blood and this can partly be blamed on the lack efficient and consistent mechanisms through which information concerning blood donation can reach the population,” Niyonzima said.He urged relevant authorities to come up with proper measures that take information down the local people. Although there might be many with such thinking, it is a fact that there are also others with a totally different view about blood donation.Among other is Moses Byamukama, an exemplary blood donor who says has donated blood 20 times without experiencing any health problem related to blood cancer.“I started donating blood at 19 years old when I was in a secondary school through a student`s blood donation club and am still donating. But doctors or health records from various medical health centres and hospitals has not indicated any negative health results of blood donation,” Byamukama said. However, he noted that there is need to come up with measures of motivating those who willingly walk to blood transfusion centres to donate blood.“This does not require much but recognizing those who have taken the lead in donating and this will attract many,” he said. The Director General of Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Jean de Dieu Ngirabega, said that the rate at which people donate blood is still low.“We need to have enough blood in the blood banks, as this will help us to quickly respond to emergency cases in hospitals,” said Ngirabega.He explained that the Ministry is establishing blood transfusion centres in various districts pointing out Kigali, Karongi, Butare, Musanze, and Rwamagana.The acting Director General of Regional Centre for blood transfusion in Kigali, Dr. Swaibu Katare, said that about 40,000 units of blood are required to meet patients` demand.He added that the centre collected 41,000 units in 2010 but that there was a slight reduction in donation last year that saw 37,811 units collected.Public awareness to educate the population about the need and advantages of the donating blood is needed, according to Katare.Blood donation seems to be a major problem not only in Rwanda but even in other countries in the region.Among others is Kenya where the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services (KNBTS) collected125, 000 units yet 200,000 units are required. Marking of the World Blood Donor Day is to appreciate the role played by exemplary blood donors in saving lives.For one to donate blood, he or she must be weighing at least 50 Kgs.