The blood donation day at the UCKG HelpCentre in Lozells Road, Birmingham last week was an outstanding success.  Not only was there record attendance, with 60 would-be donors keen to participate, but 41 new donors signed up to give blood on a regular basis. Most importantly, everyone who gave blood was from a black or minority ethnic background with the majority being of African and African Caribbean descent.  “Certain rare blood groups are more common in specific ethnic groups, so encouraging people with rarer blood types to donate is a constant challenge for us,” said Jayne Harman, West Midlands spokesperson for the National Blood Service (NBS).

“At present only three per cent of regular blood donors are of Asian, African and African Caribbean descent and we are keen to increase this figure.  We hope that even more people in the Lozells area will follow in the footsteps of the 60 individuals who came along in January to give blood.  On behalf of the NBS I would just like to say a huge thank you to all at UCKG,” Jayne concluded.

Pastor James Marques who leads the Lozells church said: “As our members have discovered, it is easy to give blood.  We are all thrilled that we managed to get so many people along that the National Blood Service team that ran the session was inundated.”

Blood donations are fundamental in saving lives, and just one gift of blood can single-handedly save up to three lives.  Some people of African and African Caribbean descent require specially matched blood transfusions as part of their treatment for the potentially life threatening disorder sickle cell anaemia, which is more prevalent among their communities than in the general population.

The UCKG HelpCentre in Lozells hosts blood donation days once or twice a year as the demand for blood is constant.  Together with the NBS, Pastor Marques and his team would urge people from Lozells and surrounding areas to continue to give to generously in future.