Call Increases For African Americans To Donate

A Blood Assurance expert said the need for African American Blood Donors is at a high as sickle cell disease is impacting the community.

Sickle Cell Initiative Manager Lorean Mays said a sickle cell patient could receive blood from anyone but the body has a chance of rejecting blood samples that are not from the same races. Mays said genetically, receiving blood from the matching person is better health-wise. She also said a black donor gives a better outcome for all patients with Sickle Cell Disease, especially children.

“It’s bigger than just coming to donate and give your blood, doing your part,” Mays said. “You’re literally helping save people’s lives, you’re literally helping children for one, because the majority of the patients here in middle Tennessee, east Tennessee, the patients in our area are primarily kids.”

Mays said only three percent of blood donors are African American leaving a gap in the system. She said the similarities in the blood come from specific antigens in African American people just as a B-positive blood donor can only have B-positive blood. Mays said using the wrong blood could result in the blood being rejected or even worse, an allergic reaction.

“To kind of eliminate things like that, that is why it is so important for us to encourage our African American brothers and sisters, and this is across the country, of course, we’re focusing here in Cookeville, but across the country to get involved in the various ways you can donate blood.”

Mays said many people need blood donations, not just Sickle Cell patients. She said people with heart disease and lung disease are benefactors of receiving blood. Mays said various blood drives will be happening across the state through churches, hospitals, local nonprofits, and blood donation events, just check online.

“Most of our events with the exception of some of the drives that are held at local high schools, are open to the public,” Mays said. “So you all are always open and welcome to come and donate and learn more.”

Mays said she has been volunteering for over twenty years across all of Tennessee. Mays said awareness of the issue is what is going to start change and encourages everyone, especially the African American community, to donate blood.

“I feel like no matter how much information is put out there for our communities, there are still some people that are not going to receive that,” Mays said. “And there are still some people who need to know.”