Senegal faces 50,000 blood bag deficit, National Blood Transfusion Center reports
via SeneNews1 min read
Senegal is currently experiencing a deficit of approximately 50,000 blood bags, according to Dr. Daouda Seck, director of the National Blood Transfusion Center CNTS. Dr. Seck stated in an interview with Santé en Chœur magazine that the country requires 186,000 blood bags annually to adequately meet the needs of health establishments, in line with World Health Organization WHO recommendations. In 2024, 136,347 blood bags were collected, covering nearly 73% of national requirements. While vital emergencies are being managed, Dr. Seck emphasized that the safety margin remains narrow. He called for increased mobilization of voluntary and regular donors to strengthen the country's blood reserves. He also highlighted that blood groups, particularly O and especially O negative, are highly sought after in emergencies, despite being among the rarest. Currently, Senegal has about 24,500 regular donors who make at least two donations per year, accounting for only 18% of total collections. Health authorities aim to increase this number to better secure national blood stocks.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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