'You can become a lifesaver in your community' - Charity gives visitors to Walsall Manor the chance to potentially save lives
A UK charity championing the well being of individuals living with blood related diseases brought its message to Walsall Manor Hospital for an awareness event on Wednesday.
Plasma of Hope launched the Life-Saving "What's Your Blood Type" campaign at the outpatient department to highlight Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia and improve access to life-saving ethnically matched blood types, particularly for patients with genetic blood disorder.
Participants in the session, at the Outpatients department, were able to discover their blood type instantly via a simple finger-prick test and were encouraged to register as blood donors.
Organisers said just one donation of blood could save up to three lives. Mayor of Walsall Councillor Louise Harrison found out she was O positive which meant her blood could be used on any other positive blood type patients.
Marie-Claire Kofi, founder and CEO of Plasma of Hope said: "Through campaigns like this we aim to educate, empower, and connect people with an opportunity to become lifesavers in their communities.
"With over 15,000 people living with sickle cell disease in the UK and more than 300 babies born with the condition each year, access to regular blood transfusions remains a critical part of treatment and crisis prevention.
"We are already established across Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, and Dudley, and are aiming to build a future where nobody living with sickle cell feels isolated or unheard.”
For more information, to volunteer, or to support the campaign, contact info@plasmaofhope.org or visit www.plasmaofhope.org.
