Rwanda is among the top three African countries (Rwanda, Namibia and Tanzania) in blood system management and it plans to be in the top five countries in the world that fulfill blood quality management, according to Dr. Thomas Muyumba , Director of the Blood Transfusion Center at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC).
“Rwanda is self-sufficient in blood system management. It is 99.7% sufficient. He wants to continue the momentum by increasing permanent donors. He will continue to refine his level of excellence. The goal is to be more consistent,” he said.
He made these remarks in front of the media who came to cover the blood donation by the staff of the Century Park hotel in Nyarutarama in Kigali. At least 60% of the 80 agents of this hotel are young and are permanent blood donors. A permanent blood donor donates blood four times in one year.
“Rwanda currently has 56,000 blood donors. This makes it possible to reach 110 thousand units of blood or sachets per year. It is these units that are distributed to various hospitals across the country,” he added.
Donations are organized in buses where anyone aged 18 to 60 can donate blood. Or in schools or hotels as is the case today. Anyone who usually donates blood can donate until the age of 65.
The Intwari Club 25 Association donates blood 25 times
“Rwanda now has an Association Intwari club 25 strong of 500 people who are committed to giving blood four times a year for 7 and a half years. The goal is to reach five thousand such donors over the next two years. This will become for them a culture that sensitizes other citizens,” continues Dr. Thomas Muyumbu.
He recalls that the condition for being a blood donor is to have the will to do so when you are at the adult age of 18 years. Then you must be 50 Kg, not have diseases and infections, such as kidney disease, hepatitis B and C, and not have asthma, rabies, heart disease.
Whoever did the tattoo has to wait 6 months to donate blood. Anyone whose tooth has been pulled or who suffers from an infected wound will also wait six months. The one with malaria will wait 2 months and the one with the flu will also wait 2 months.
People suffering from HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, venereal diseases, will never donate blood. A pregnant or breastfeeding mother will wait until the child is over a year old. A menstruating woman will wait two weeks. One who suffers from blood pressure or anemia will not donate blood.
Source: RNA
