Bafoussam Regional Hospital : Raising awareness to promote blood donation

This was the theme of a seminar organized by the West Cameroon Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, in partnership with the Bafoussam Regional Hospital Blood Bank, on March 21, 2024.

Adèle BITGA

Blood donation is a process whereby a blood donor volunteers to have blood collected for storage in a blood bank, before transfusing it into a sick person as part of a blood transfusion. Blood donation, which is voluntary and free of charge, implies compliance with biological, immunological and medical constraints, as well as regulatory and legislative requirements. The principles of identity, hemovigilance and transfusion safety apply in particular. Fear, under- information or misinformation of donors, and even the manner in which they are received during the donation process, are all obstacles to blood donation.

The aim was to educate volunteer blood donors in the best strategies for raising awareness of blood donation, in order to erase the misconceptions that circulate about blood donation and minimize the shortage of blood in hospitals. To this end, the theme was approached from a number of angles: how to initiate a conversation with a stranger, the definition of blood transfusion and blood donation, the benefits of blood donation for the health of the donor, the financial benefits of blood donation and, finally, the conditions required to be a blood donor.

The first presentation, by Simplice DIDI FALEU, a member of the West Cameroon Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, focused on how to initiate a conversation with a stranger. This was followed by the definition of key concepts relating to blood donation and transfusion medicine. NDIE Chatelle’s presentation successively described the concepts of blood donation, volunteer donors, family or replacement donors, blood transfusion, donation medicine, blood banking and transfusion medicine.

The third presentation by Ernest Boris ANDOU, CEO of ABE Foundation, focused on the health benefits of blood donation for the donor. “Very often when we talk about blood donation, we only mention the benefits for the recipient. However, apart from the reason why volunteers give blood, there are many other benefits: cell renewal (the more regularly you give blood, the more protected you are from certain diseases); permanent production of iron by the bone marrow; free blood tests; the liver is better protected”, he points out, and concludes, “Giving just one bag of blood can save 3 lives, thanks in particular to the platelets, blood plasma and red blood cells contained in that blood.”

 The fourth presentation, by NEMBOT Guy Merlin, Teacher and SG of the Volunteer Donors Association, focused on the social benefits of blood donation for the donor. In addition to saving the life of the recipient, the volunteer donor adopts a healthy lifestyle. “Indeed, at the 1^er donation, we discover that the health check-up is free of charge, and for those with a diagnosed health problem, it’s easy for them to be directed to the appropriate service from the blood bank for rapid treatment. Secondly, blood donation strengthens the bond of solidarity between human beings, and makes us generous people. Donating blood makes us more fulfilled people. And last but not least, when we need blood, it’s easier to receive it because we’re regular donors.

The various aspects of the problem posed by blood donation reflect the very nature of the blood product and its perception in popular imagery. For: blood donation is a gift of oneself, not a service (no factory manufactures blood, and blood donation is the sole source of supply); blood is a labile product, so blood donation must be renewed or frequent, as blood cannot be stored for long; blood donation is rare, as it is a part of oneself that one is giving, or one’s energy, or even one’s soul; and blood donation presents risks, particularly for the recipient.

The last exhibitor, MBOMBO Giles, a regular donor, spoke about the conditions required to be a blood donor. “On the face of it, and barring exceptional cases, most of the population is likely to give blood, albeit under certain conditions. The criteria are age (18 – 62), body mass (at least 50 kg), being in good health, being recognized as fit to donate by health personnel, not being HIV-positive, not having been ill in the month preceding the blood donation, and not being pregnant or breast-feeding. It is necessary to wait 7 days before making a blood donation after a course of antibiotics or dental treatment. In addition, anyone who has had a blood transfusion or organ transplant is not eligible to donate blood. He adds, “The interval between 2 blood donations must be 3 months for male donors and 4 months for female donors.”

In conclusion, volunteer blood donors from the Western region were invited to encourage people around them to become blood donors in order to contribute to the preservation of sacred human lives.