Blood donation is a crucial process that helps save lives, by providing a steady supply of blood and blood products for medical treatments and emergencies. However, the process is sometimes curtailed by weak assumptions that prevent blood donors from donating blood.

These assumptions can sometimes be based on misinformation or lack of awareness. Accordingly, kindly consider the following before you hold on to any assumptions you may be having:

1. Confidentiality

All information gathered or discovered during any given blood donation exercise is treated with strict confidence. This is a crucial part that works to build trust, especially with blood donors. Furthermore, it is a right that every blood donor is entitled to. The Damu Sasa platform works to ensure that only approved medical personnel directly dealing with screening have access to such information.

2. Paid vs. Unpaid

In Kenya, as in most other nations, blood donation is purely voluntary and non-remunerated. This is according to the Ministry of Health Policy and Guidelines on Blood Donation. The great thing is that one can derive other benefits from blood donation other than getting paid. These could include various health benefits, such as mental well-being, arising from altruism. The Damu Sasa platform works to ensure that each blood donor is appreciated throughout their entire blood donation history.

3. Eligibility vs. Discrimination

There are various eligibility criteria one has to meet before they can donate blood. These criteria may be based on age, weight, and medication history among others. Such criteria are normally put in place as a safety measure for both blood donors and recipients of the donated blood. Any potential blood donor who meets the set criteria can and should be allowed to donate blood. That is regardless of their race, gender, or religion, among others. The Damu Sasa platform always provides potential donors with an eligibility checklist, to keep them informed before any blood donation exercise.

4. Time and Convenience

On average, a blood donation exercise is a procedure that only lasts a few minutes. The Damu Sasa platform works to ensure that potential blood donors can easily locate blood donation centres close to them through Google Maps, and facilitates blood donation appointment booking to ensure that blood donors do not wait in long queues to donate blood. That helps make time taken more predictable by blood donors, enabling them to plan better.

5. Blood Donation as a Necessity

At least four people need blood every ten minutes. These are especially mothers and children who account for nearly 60% of all blood consumed. Accordingly, by donating blood, you will be helping to save patients who could as well be your sisters, mothers or even brothers. As Damu Sasa, our mission is to help increase blood donations, in everything we do whether through our digital platforms, CSR activities, or even publications such as this one. We hope you will join our community by downloading our app either via the Google Play Store for Android, or the Apple App Store for IOS.

+3

0