The 2016 edition of the World Blood Donor Day was commemorated in Cameroon on June 21, 2016.

The annual demand for blood and blood products in Cameroon is estimated at about 400,000 pints of blood. Available statistics show that in 2015, 73,000 pints of blood were collected as against 49,000 in 2014.

The pints of blood are collected mostly from government central hospitals and general hospitals thus 17,076 from Yaounde Central Hospital, 12,237 from Douala Laquintinie Hospital, 5,329 from Douala General Hospital and 4,364 from the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric Hospital.

Even though slight increase has been recorded during the last few years, much still needs to be done so as to meet the expected demand. It is in this light that the 2016 edition of the World Blood Donor Day was commemorated in Cameroon on June 21, 2016 on theme “Blood connects us all”.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda said the challenge of insufficiency in blood and blood products can be met on condition that all actors play their roles fully. He stressed on the need to strengthen the blood transfusion system in Cameroon in order to make it credible.

André Mama Fouda used the occasion to thank technical and financial partners for their efforts in supporting blood transfusion system in Cameroon and also the Islamic Development Bank that has taken the commitment to finance projects for the construction of modern infrastructure for blood transfusion centres in some regions of the country.

He said a synergy of all actors will enable the country collect more pints of blood, treat with quality assurance so that health centres can have sufficient blood and blood products to save many lives at a time.

The World Blood Donor Day was an occasion to thank blood donors for their life-saving gift of blood and also to create wider public awareness of the need for regular blood donation while inspiring those who have not yet donated blood to start donating.