With World Blood Donor Day, Dr. Emmanuel Amisi Sefu, head of the Butembo Blood Transfusion Center, revealed that insecurity has a strong impact on blood donors in this area. Despite this, the demand for blood is enormous and the hospitals of the Division Provinciale de la Santé d’Antenne de Butembo must cover all cases. In addition, some refuse to donate blood, which accentuates the difficult situation.
Indeed, the security situation in the region has a considerable impact on blood donors, with health zones that cannot carry out mobile blood drives. It is also a factor in the refusal of some individuals to donate blood, thus contributing to the lack of blood stocks for hospitals.
Despite this, some volunteers have contributed, such as Melchior Kalungero Kasereka who gave his blood for the first time. Thus, he encourages other people to donate blood, which according to him has no health risk.
The humanitarian crisis in the DRC has an impact on the health of populations in general, and the lack of blood for patients in need is one example among many others. It is important that health and safety authorities decide to focus on blood donor safety, to ensure that blood stocks are sufficient for patients in need of transfusion.
It is essential to raise public awareness of the situation, by organizing events that combine educational, cultural and health aspects in general. Initiatives such as the ongoing environmental week in Butembo for the fight against plastic pollution, the cultural group Kipfumu Bwenge Muisha and their show for peace and social cohesion, or the ARSP business dinner for the promotion of the Congolese middle class and the development of SMEs are all avenues to explore to raise awareness on the subject.
Finally, it is essential to recall the importance of blood donation to save lives and to denounce the impact of insecurity on the exercise of solidarity