Give and let live

These are the causes that are very close to my heart: the fight against domestic violence, the fight against breast cancer (because in my second year I got a scare. Thankfully when I was checked, they found that even though I had quite abnormal lumps, they were not cancerous) and blood donation.

June 14th is the International Blood Donor Day. Very exciting for me this year is the fact that that the company I work for now calls in people from the blood bank so that we can donate. Infact I have just donated my blood.

I donate blood because importantly, I am blood group O. That means I can give the entire world blood.
Also, very many people need blood.
In March this year, a distant relation of mine was brought from the village because he was very sick. When they got to Mulago, the doctors announced that he needed blood but the hospital did not have blood. Which is as absurd as Mulago usually gets. My relatives then called me but I was recovering from Malaria and it had just rained red at mine a few days earlier making me a very poor candidate for donation. I have never felt so bad in my life.

About three weeks ago, my cousin gave birth to a handsome baby boy who I have since called my new boyfriend (sorry, Ebony). Even though the delivery was normal she almost bled to death but the doctors were able to notice early enough and take her to theatre. She had a blood transfusion and is up to now feeding on all sorts of green vegetables to be healthy again. And she is not alone. There are hundreds of women who lose blood in the labour wards.

Strange that someone can go to hospital and not find blood? In May, New Vision reported that the blood bank was facing shortage. Bukenya (the blood donor mobiliser based at the Nakasero Blood Bank in Kampala) said the bank needed 200,000 units of blood to supply all the health centres across the country. “If people and organisations don’t respond by donating blood, the officials said, even Mulago, the largest hospital, would be affected.”

This is what yesterday’s Daily Monitor reported:
Dr Nathan Kenya Mugisha, the director of health services – Clinical and Community, said …
“We need about 200,000 units of blood per year. Currently, we are getting 180,000 units,” Dr Mugisha said. “We can’t manufacture blood. We urge people to donate blood and save lives.”

Dr Mugisha added that Uganda has an annual shortage of 20,000 units of blood. “The need for blood increases with the increasing population and the burden of diseases especially malaria and anaemia. If we can control those diseases, the need for blood would reduce,” he said.

From the internet:

Facts about the blood donation process
1. Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded
2. Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration and medical history, mini-physical, donation, and refreshments
3. Every blood donor is given a mini-physical, checking the donor’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hematocrit level (red blood cells count) to ensure it is safe for him or her to give blood
4. The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. T
5. The average adult has about 10 to 12 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation
6. All donated blood is tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases, before it can be released to hospitals
7. Information you give during the donation process is strictly confidential. It may not be released without your permission except as directed by law

Facts about blood and its components
8. Whole blood can be processed into red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate. The total number of units of all of these components transfused in a year is 29 million (2001)
9. It is possible to donate specifically only platelets or plasma. This process is called apheresis 10. Most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection
11. Donated platelets must be used within 5 days of collection — new donations are constantly needed
12. Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets. The body will replenish the elements given during a blood donation – some in a matter of hours, and others in a matter of weeks

Facts about donors
13. The #1 reason donors say they give blood is because they “want to help others”
14. Two most common reasons cited by people who don’t give blood are: “Never thought about it” and “I don’t like needles”
15. One donation can help save the lives of up to 3 people
16. If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save over 1,000 lives!
17. Red Cross donors are 50% male, 50% female
18. People with O- type blood are universal donors. Their blood can be given to people of all blood types.
19. Type O- blood is often used in emergencies before the patient’s blood type is known, and with newborns who need blood.
20. People with AB+ type blood are universal donors of plasma, the liquid portion of blood. AB+ plasma is often used in emergencies, for newborns and for patients requiring massive transfusions