On this Thursday, June 14, World Blood Donor Day raises public awareness of the importance of blood donation in France, which helps treat more than a million patients each year.
Every year, one million patients are treated with blood products. However, “the French do not yet give enough blood”, explains Doctor Jamal Benomar, director of blood collection at the French blood establishment in Ile-de-France. While 10,000 blood donations are needed every day, only 4% of French people take the step.
Donate blood between 4 and 6 times a year
“The problem lies rather in the fact that blood donors do not renew their approach enough. Result: to deal with an attack for example, the reserves of blood products are just, much too just. Those who will donate their blood afterwards a disaster of this kind will come too late”, laments Jamal Benomar. “The most important thing is for people to understand that you can donate blood between 4 and 6 times a year, and not only occasionally, as is too often the case today”.
Initiated in 2004 by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Blood Donor Day raises public awareness of the importance of blood donation. Blood products are used in two major cases: emergency situations (haemorrhage during childbirth, accident, surgery, etc.) and chronic needs (blood diseases and cancers) , which remain the pathologies that consume the most blood products with almost half (47%) of patients transfused.
Cancer and Chemotherapy
Some heavy and intensive cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, destroy cancer cells but also healthy blood cells, especially platelets. The manufacture of blood cells by the bone marrow is also made difficult. During this period, a transfusion support makes it possible to renew the blood and thus strengthen the weakened organism.
“In 2008, I was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. During the treatment, my life was suspended on transfusions of blood, platelets. While I was being transfused, I always asked myself the question: ‘Who are those those who devote a little of their time, who overcome their fear of the injection to, in the name of solidarity, give their blood?’ In a time where individualism reigns, this surge of humanity is both reassuring and bearer of hope for us, the sick”, testifies Christian, a 39-year-old patient.
128 fixed sites
More than 40,000 mobile blood collections take place every year in France, which also has 128 fixed sites – all addresses are available on dondesang.efs.sante.fr. And like every year, World Blood Donor Day gives rise to more than 300 collections organized across France.
“The goal is also to thank the 1.6 million French blood donors. They are real heroes, like this Australian with the golden arm”, is moved Jamal Benomar, before concluding: “give his blood is also extremely rewarding psychologically.” Recently, the press reported the story of James Harrison, an 81-year-old Australian who gave blood 1,173 times, saving 2.4 million babies. His plasma contained a rare antibody, which made it possible to give anti-D injections to prevent haemolytic disease of the newborn (HND).
Contraindications
To donate blood, you must be of legal age, weigh more than 50 kilos and be recognized as fit during a preliminary medical interview. Having certain medical history (such as malaria), being very recently tattooed or having traveled to a country where certain tropical diseases prevail are examples of contraindications. Note that homosexual men can donate blood since 2016, but sexual abstinence for one year is mandatory. A provision denounced by the associations.
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