Guinea: Govt launches blood donation campaign
The Guinean government has launched a national blood donation campaign to avoid a repeat of the shortage experienced in June in the country’s hospitals, health centers and national blood bank.
The shortage forced President Alpha Condé to make an emergency appeal to Senegal and Burkina Faso to help save the lives of hundreds who needed blood in hospitals throughout the country.
President Condé’s appeal stemmed from the last minute alarm from Guinea’s main hospital in Conakry where patients were dying almost daily due to the lack of blood.
“We have received all the necessary equipment needed to start work thanks to assistance from the Head of State, the Health Ministry and partners,” said Andre Lua, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Center in Conakry, who called for more equipment support.
According to him, to secure supplies of blood across the country equipment such as blood bags, tubes or pipes and other kits were needed.
But Mr Lua said the most important step toward having sufficient blood in store was mobilization of the blood donors because “if we are fully equipped, but cannot find blood donors our work will be stalled.”
He, however expressed satisfaction over a huge mobilization effort by Red Cross volunteers in the country to donate blood and urged Guineans to do the same to help the country meet its blood needs.
By WADR Conakry Correspondent Abdourahamane Diallo (Editing by Harrison Akoh) Tweet
