Blood Assurance is asking for a specific type of blood donation from a specific group of donors.
“Impact, when it relates to my community, is what’s important,” said Blood Assurance African-American and Sickle Cell Initiative Manager Lorean Mays.
Mays spent two decades advocating for health and medical awareness, especially when it comes to the African-American community and sickle cell donation needs.
“Sickle cell disease is primarily something that affects majority African-Americans or those of African descent,” said Mays.
With Juneteenth, Blood Donor Day and World Sickle Cell Day all right around the corner, she is spreading awareness about the severe need for African-American sickle cell donations.
“You have people fighting different types of cancer, cardiovascular disease,” said Mays. “At any given time, there can be an accident on I-75 where there is immediate blood needed.”
Right now, less than 3% of blood donors are of African-American descent. Mays said that number needs to be higher.
“You have a more genetic match if you have an African-American donor giving that blood,” said Mays. “That is then going to be provided to a sickle cell patient in the hospital in crisis, or as we call it, emergency.”
Mays said this genetic match matters more than some may realize because bodies can reject blood donations, even if they severely need them.
“There are some that, because they have to have so many transfusions and depending on the severity of the disease, they can begin to reject the blood,” said Mays.
However, she said blood donations from everyone are necessary and anything will help Blood Assurance’s current severe need.
“Ideally when we’re speaking of sickle cell disease, we want to speak directly to the African-American community,” said Mays. “But that does not mean our Asian counterparts, White counterparts, Hispanic and Latino counterparts cannot donate.”
There will be an opportunity for blood donations on Juneteenth in Dalton, GA. You can see all upcoming blood donation opportunities by clicking here.
