The UK government has announced a new funding scheme of £600,000 to promote blood and organ donation amongst the Black, Asian and minority ethnicities (BAME).
Sarika Chandarana believes stronger awareness is needed to ensure enough BAME people can access blood donation.
NHS Blood and Transplant manages the investment scheme and aims to spread awareness of lack of donors in the BAME community.
The National Health Service plans to work with local organisations to engage, educate and find more donors.
According to a report published last year, fewer than 5% of blood donors came from the BAME community.
People from ethnic minorities are more likely to suffer from sickle cell disease, where there is a lack of healthy red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, or Thalassemia – a blood disorder affecting the protein in red blood cells which can lead to Anaemia.
Hayley King, founder of Cianna’s smile, a sickle cell awareness charity, said: “I started this charity in 2012 in order to educate people about sickle cells. There are many religious stigmas around blood donation in the BAME community. I believe we need to spread awareness about this issue so that more people from our community participate in the blood donation process.
Hayley’s daughter, Cianna suffers from sickle cell disease. Credit: Berni Palumbo.
Sickle cell is a life threatening disease where patients blood cells form in the shape of sickle. It causes problems with blood circulation in the body.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder where the body forms inadequate haemoglobin.
Patients suffering from these diseases require a regular blood transfusion. Clinical data report shows that blood donors from the same ethnicity typically are the best match for the transfusion.
“I have heard many people complaining about how they sign up for donation but their appointments keep getting cancelled by the NHS blood and transplant. It is really frustrating, I think the firm needs to be more accountable and provide donors with more options.”
Blood donation centres are open, people are being advised to follow the government guidelines which is to wear a face mask and sanitise before the appointment.
The centres across the UK are encouraging people who have had Covid-19 or symptoms of it, to donate plasma.
People who have had Covid-19 may have produced plasma which contains antibodies which can further be transfused to patients who struggle to develop them.
If you wish to donate blood you can register on the NHS blood donation website and find more information.
By Shivalika Puri (@shivalikapuri)
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