According to the National Centre for Blood, 95, 806 blood units were distributed in 65 hospitals across Rwanda in 2018.
These blood units were collected from 548 mobile blood collection sites established in community, private or public institutions as well as five fixed sites located at every regional blood transfusion center.
Although figures show how steady the sector is, misconceptions and myths about blood transfusion and blood donation have proven to be a major challenge.
The Division Manager of the National Center for Blood Transfusion, Dr. Swaibu Gatare, told Sunday Times possible myths and misconceptions held by the community on blood transfusion and donation.
Non-Discriminatory
Gatare told Sunday Times that the conditions and process set for people to donate blood are not discriminatory as some in the public might think.
He explains that blood donor eligibility conditions follow international standards and were set in order to ensure safety of both a blood donor and recipient.
"Our process is not discriminatory but it’s strict only because we want to ensure that the quality of the blood and safety of beneficiaries,” he said.
For instance, he explains, men having sex with men and sex workers are excluded from blood donors because chances are high for them to acquire HIV virus.
Fresh blood is better than stored
He explained that in a situation where a patient lost a significant amount of blood or got injured, fresh whole blood is better. After 24 hours of storage, blood loses some of its components that might be helpful to the patient.
However, fresh blood transmitted to a malaria patient might be risky.
"When transmitting blood to a malaria patient, some blood components are needed. It is better to use stored blood, which has lost the unwanted components, to meet the patient’s needs. When it is not done, fresh blood might lead to other health issues like breathing complications,” he explains.
Mothers can donate
Gatare explains that mothers can donate blood but under some conditions –for their safety.
He elaborated that pregnant or breast-feeding mothers are not allowed to donate blood as means of safeguarding both mother and child’s health.
Furthermore, women and girls in menses can only donate blood after seven days, for it is when the lost blood during menstruation period is recovered.
Body weight gain
Among the factors that lead to body weight gain, he explained, blood donation should be excluded. It is scientifically proven that food, hereditary factors or some medications can lead to body weight gain but there are no scientific elaborations on body weight gain caused by blood donation.
"There is no link between blood donation and body weight gain. It is a myth that needs to be cleared,” he declared.
Transfusions after effects are hazardous
A misconception that blood transfusion results in greater risk than benefit is wholly wrong.
Gatare emphasized that when giving blood to a patient, only needed components are extracted, which means that the blood bank ensures safety of both donors and patients.
"If there are some after effects showcased after blood transfusion, there has to be other health issues behind them. We recommend patients to consult a doctor,” he said.
Religious incomprehension on blood transfusion
Gatare said that apart from explaining to the patients that there is a life before beliefs, there are other alternatives when patients don’t give consent to be given blood.
Legitimately, the hospital has the responsibility to decide for a minor or an unconscious patient.
Do tattooed people donate blood?
Gatare explains that a tattoo acquiring process can involve unsterilized tools that might be a source of infectious diseases. Therefore, a tattoo should be at least six months old for someone to donate blood. This is when infectious diseases, if any, can be tracked.
"Otherwise, tattooed people can donate blood,” he said.
Who doesn’t donate blood?
The conditions for one to be allowed to donate blood, in Rwanda, include the donor’s voluntary willingness and the donor must be above18. He or she must be weighing at least 50 kilograms, and a lifestyle that does not expose him or her to transmissible infections.
"We always avoid collecting blood that will be discarded due to infections such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis, Schizophrenia, and many other diseases.