World Blood Donor Day 2024: thank you to all blood donors!

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Extract from the article: On Friday June 14, 2024 in Lomé, the National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS) launched the activities marking the celebration of World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), celebrated every June 14. For this 2024 edition, the theme is: « 20 years of celebrating b

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On Friday June 14, 2024 in Lomé, the National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS) launched the activities marking the celebration of World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), celebrated every June 14.  For this 2024 edition, the theme is: « 20 years of celebrating blood donation: thank you to all blood donors! ». Through this theme, « we express our thanks to blood donors for their life-saving donations. Our gratitude is a call to action to motivate more people to donate blood in order to achieve self-sufficiency in blood products », stressed Professor Agrégé Lochina Fétéké, Director of the CNTS. To meet the objectives of raising public awareness, the CNTS organized special blood drives and awarded honorary diplomas and certificates of recognition to donors.

Every blood donation is a ray of hope in someone's life. On the occasion of WBDD 2024, the CNTS paid tribute to blood donors for the profound influence they have on both patients and society. It was also a time to tackle the challenges that remain, and to accelerate progress towards universal access to safe blood transfusions.

At the official launch of the day, Professor Agrégé Lochina Fétéké, Director of the CNTS, stressed the importance of this day in widening the circle of awareness on blood donation as a human behavior and a fundamental pillar in raising the health level of citizens.

He paid tribute to the dedication of regular blood donors, and called for further efforts to raise awareness.This is to make up as much as possible of the shortfall in blood donations, to alleviate the suffering of the sick and to cultivate the spirit of solidarity. « This is an opportunity to thank donors and encourage those who are reluctant to give blood to do so, so that the CNTS can cover the country's blood needs. Giving blood is a gesture of compassion and humanism.We welcome this gesture and are extremely grateful to all blood donors.We must also remember the health of blood donors and the quality of the care they receive. This is essential to encourage and reinforce their commitment and willingness to give blood regularly », explained Pr. Agr. Feteke Lochina.

Currently, African countries collect only 5.2 units of blood per 1,000 people, which is less than the ten or more donations per 1,000 people recommended by the WHO.

In Togo, the CNTS collects 8.13 donations per 1000 inhabitants.A commendable effort, yet the demand for blood remains constant, while the supply is often insufficient. 

The General Manager of Coris Bank International (CBI) Togo, Alassane Kaboré, also warmly thanked blood, plasma and platelet donors for this irreplaceable gesture of solidarity, which saves lives.He reiterated CBI Togo's commitment to supporting the CNTS in the implementation of its activities.

To mark this day, the CNTS organized a blood drive on June 13 and 14, at the CNTS site and at collection and distribution points in Lomé at CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Atakpamé, Kpalimé, Afagnan and Sokodé.  The aim is to strengthen its reserves and meet the needs of the population.

William O.