World Blood Donor Day 2023: Blood, Plasma: Sharing Life, Giving Often!

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Extract from the article: The Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine (CNTS) launched the activities marking the celebration of World Blood Donor Day on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Lomé. This annual event is celebrated on June 14th. The theme for this year is "Blood, Plasma...

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The  Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine (CNTS) launched the activities marking the celebration of World Blood Donor Day on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Lomé. This annual event is celebrated on June 14th. The theme for this year is "Blood, Plasma: Sharing Life, Giving Often!" This message primarily focuses on patients who require lifelong transfusion support and emphasizes the role that each individual can play by making the precious gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of regularly donating blood or plasma to create a safe and sustainable stock of blood and blood products that can be readily available worldwide, ensuring timely treatment for all patients in need. To raise awareness among the population, the NBTC is organizing special blood collection sessions and expressing gratitude to blood donors and transfusion volunteers.

The need for blood transfusion is constant. Each day, blood donations save lives by addressing numerous emergency situations and chronic needs. However, only a small percentage of Togolese people donate blood. As World Blood Donor Day approaches on June 14th, the NBTC promotes the importance of voluntary and voluntary blood donation, which strengthens solidarity and social cohesion within the community. It is an opportunity to express gratitude to voluntary blood donors and encourage those who hesitate to donate, so that the CNTS can meet the country's blood supply needs. In Togo, 70,000 units of blood are needed annually.

During the official launch of the day, Professor Ag. Lochina Fétéké, Director of the NBTC, emphasized the significance of this day in expanding awareness about blood donation as a human behavior and a fundamental pillar in improving the health level of citizens. He commended the dedication of regular blood donors and then paid a heartfelt tribute to young volunteer blood donors, calling for further efforts in raising awareness. This is to bridge the possible blood donation deficit and alleviate the suffering of patients while fostering a spirit of solidarity. "Blood and plasma are precious resources that must be available in sufficient quantity to meet the needs of patients. This year, the campaign aims to celebrate and thank those who donate blood and encourage more people to become donors themselves. It highlights the essential role of regular, voluntary, and unpaid donations of blood and plasma in achieving universal access to safe blood products for all populations," stated Professor Ag. Feteke Lochina.

To commemorate this day, the CNTS is organizing a large-scale blood collection operation on Saturday, June 10th, and Wednesday, June 14th. This is to strengthen their reserves and meet the needs of the population.

Share Life, Give Often!

In Togo, the NBTC faces challenges in ensuring an adequate blood supply while guaranteeing quality and safety. The lack of access to safe blood and blood products has repercussions on all patients, including those in need of regular transfusions. One of the strategies of the CNTS is to improve the availability and quality of human plasma, particularly through optimal use of plasma obtained from whole blood donations and improving patients' access to plasma protein therapies that can save lives.

"Blood and blood products are essential resources for the proper management of women suffering from bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anemia caused by malaria and malnutrition, patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, congenital hemoglobin disorders, immunodeficiency diseases, victims of trauma, emergencies, disasters, and accidents, as well as patients undergoing complex medical and surgical procedures. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those in need is not," emphasized Professor Ag. Feteke Lochina.

To be eligible for blood donation in Togo, one must weigh at least 50 kg and fall within the age range of 18-60 years. Approximately 350 to 400 ml of blood is collected during each donation.

Raymond DZAKPATA