The Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda has called on the population to cultivate blood donation altitude. This was during the commemoration ceremony of World Blood Day, which took place last July 15, 2014 at the Cameroon Red Cross hall in Yaoundé. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Andre Mama Fouda said each Cameroonian should at least donate blood once a year to enable hospitals meet the country’s demand, which is short in relation to the needed quantity to save lives of delivery mothers and accident victims.

Minister Mama Fouda said people of the above mentioned categories regularly need blood on a daily basis, persons suffering from anaemia, severe malaria, pregnant women and mothers who have just given birth. Also those suffering from haemophilia and dialysis require some level of blood transfusion to keep them going. Mama Fouda awarded attestation to some volunteers who have been donating blood to hospitals and urged them to continue with that humanitarian service.

People who can donate blood are male and female in good physical and mental health aged 18 to 65 years and weight from 50kg, while those who cannot donate blood are those having risky sexual behaviour, have undergone transplantation or bears organ of a donor, having chronic illness, taking alcohol regularly, having donated within the last three months or taking controlled drugs.

Blood can be donated at community health units, hospitals and during mobile campaign teams. The event took place in the presence of other members of government, representatives of International Organizations, NGOs and guests.