To commemorate World Blood Donor Day on June 14th, MamaYe Sierra Leone will join the National Safe Blood Services at Kabala Community Center in Koinadugu district for this year’s celebration and tribute to blood donors nationwide.
To commemorate World Blood Donor Day (June 14th), MamaYe Sierra Leone will join the National Safe Blood Services (NSBS) at Kabala Community Center in Koinadugu district for this year’s celebration and tribute to blood donors nationwide. In Sierra Leone more than 2000 mothers will lose their lives due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth, and more than 11,000 newborns every year will not survive. Of these women over a third will die from major bleeding. Dr. Baker, programme manager at NSBS states that, “When we talk of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality there should be an effective and efficient blood services, but Blood Service is a sleeping giant that needs to be awake”. Blood transfusion is indispensible in life saving. During childbirth massive blood loss is a major cause of maternal death and can result in the loss of a mother and babies life within two hours. Dr. Baker stresses that “there should be an available adequate, free of cost and non-discriminatory blood services in the country. The remedy of giving blood is from either you or me so let’s donate blood to start saving lives,” he continues by saying “the government of Sierra Leone should be aware that blood services are crucial in reaching MDGs 4 & 5.”This year's World Blood Donor theme is "Give the gift of life, Donate blood". Start today by simply acquiring more knowledge on blood donation by joining a blood group through NSBS. Learn more about blood for mothers and babies by downloading the flyer here. You have the power to give the gift of life, donate today.