Blood donation is crucial, with 1 in 7 hospitalized patients requiring a blood transfusion. Despite this generous and life-saving act, many individuals still harbor concerns about the process.
To clarify these issues, ICKNews spoke with Moise Tuyishimire, the Blood Donor Recruitment and Retention Senior Officer at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), who provided valuable insights on what Rwandans should know before donating blood.
According to Tuyishimire, blood donation in Rwanda is open to healthy individuals aged between 18 and 60 years and who weigh at least 50 kilograms to ensure their bodies can safely handle blood loss.
“The person who donates blood must be in good health, free from chronic illnesses or recent infections, as those recovering from illness or taking specific medications may face temporary deferrals,” he explains.
For those planning to donate, Tuyishimire advises them to stay hydrated, consume iron-rich foods, and avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to donating. A good night’s sleep can also help prevent fatigue or dizziness.
After blood is a donated, Tuyishimire states that the hospital conducts thorough testing for infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis, to ensure the blood is safe for patients.
“Blood types are also recorded to ensure that hospitals have the appropriate type available for patients in need,” he added.
While all blood types are valuable, O-negative blood is particularly important, as it is considered a universal donor type and can be given to anyone in an emergency.
Furthermore, after donating blood, it’s crucial to replenish the body with nutrient-rich foods.
“Iron-rich foods, such as leafy greens, eggs, or meat, can help restore lost iron,” Tuyishimire explained, “Staying hydrated is also vital for recovery.”
In Rwanda, donated blood goes to a diverse range of patients, including accident victims, surgical patients, pregnant women facing childbirth complications, and individuals with chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease.
Blood transfusions are essential in many life-or-death situations, highlighting the importance of regular donations.
“Donating blood is very important as the blood you are delivering might help one of your family members, for example, your wife while she is giving birth. So let us have the heart of aiding those in need,” Tuyishimire advised.
He also noted, “Once collected, whole blood can be stored for up to 42 days, platelets for 5 days, and plasma can be frozen and stored for up to one year.”
On the donation frequency in Rwanda, Tuyishimire revealed that “the country is at a good level as Rwandans have a good heart for aiding others.”
He referenced statistics from the World Health Organization, stating that “1% of the whole country’s population must be donating blood.
“For example, in Rwanda, we have a population of 14 million. We should have at least 140 thousand people who donate blood every year, but for now, we have 120 thousand people who donate blood. You can feel it; we are at a good level,” he stated.
He pleased the level of blood donation saying, “Even though Rwanda is at a good level regarding blood donation, we don’t care much about those statistics. What we care about is the hospitals’ satisfaction, which reflects the quantity of blood the hospitals requested and the quantity we were able to provide.”
“For now, in Rwanda, we are at 99.47%, which is good statistics. But you may ask why it is not 100%. This shows that we still need people to understand the importance of blood donation and start donating at a higher level than they are today,” he urged.
For the message of the RBC to the general public, Tuyishimire emphasized the importance of ensuring that blood donation reaches 100%.
“We encourage those who meet all eligibility criteria to make donating a habit. There is no other place to find blood other than in people; there is no industry that manufactures it, and it is not bought or exported anywhere. We encourage Rwandans to have the heart to help others. As we have received it for free, we must also donate it to those in need for free.”
The average adult human body contains approximately 4.5 to 6 liters of blood, depending on factors such as body size, weight, and sex, and one can safely donate about 450 to 500 milliliters (0.5 liters) of blood at one time. This amount is approximately 10% of the total blood volume in the body, which is well within safe limits.
While a survey by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre in 2022 revealed that 78,838 blood units were donated, 27.24% were contributed by youth aged 18-25 years. Notably, the most prevalent donor group was O+, contributing 39,558 blood units, while O- and AB- donated 7,611 and 145 units, respectively.