The General Manager (GM) of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Prof Dora Ngum Shu Mbanya, has urged Cameroonians to donate blood to save more lives. She made the call during a sports walk in Yaounde on Saturday, June 7.
Prof Mbanya also stressed the need for people to donate blood voluntarily in order to save lives without waiting only for emergencies. The sports walk was part of activities to mark this year’s World Blood Donor Day to be commemorated on Saturday, June 14 under the theme: “Give blood, give hope, together we save lives!”
Speaking to the media, the General Manager of NBTS disclosed that her institution is making significant progress. Before the coming of NBTS in 2019, she said only about 100,000 pints of blood were collected, falling short of the 400,000 pints the nation needs. In its first year, the institution, she said, gathered 165,708 pints.
Although 2023 saw only 158,481 pints collected, officials said there was a 4.55 per cent increase in 2024, representing a coverage of 41 per cent. All this, she said, is thanks to the growing number of voluntary donors.
Taboos gradually disappearing
According to NBTS, taboos and myths surrounding blood donation are fast disappearing from the society. The GM noted that: “A glaring example is that of the northern regions (Adamawa, North and Far North) where beliefs about blood donation are rife. Contrary to misconceptions that the population does not donate blood, over 17,000 pints were collected in 2019 and in 2024, the figures nearly doubled, according to NBTS statistics.
While thanking its partners, NBTS, the General Manager said, is seeking partnerships with public and private enterprises, local leaders, traditional authorities, religious institutions, youth organizations, social media influencers “to embed blood donation in community values”.
Prof Dora Mbanya appealed for unity to, “ write the story of a Cameroon where safe blood is always available because, its people, informed and inspired by you , choose to give it”.
Speaking about the sports walk, the NBTS GM noted that besides being necessary for good health, the exercise was “an opportunity to sensitize the general public because we are preparing for the World Blood Donor Day, which is celebrated every June 14.”
She said: “Not only are we celebrating the donors, but it’s also an opportunity to encourage others to donate blood. As I always say, if you need blood and don’t receive blood, you will die”.
