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Africa Sickle Cell Organisation Bone and Blood Foundation

Join Us for Better than Gold Campaign

Give Blood, Give Life

This September, through blood donation and raising funds for vulnerable people living with sickle cell disease to access life-changing Red Blood Cell Exchange therapy.

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A smiling blood donor wearing a 'Give Blood, Give Hope' apron giving a thumbs up
Why This Campaign Matters

For someone living with Sickle Cell Disease, blood can be a lifeline.

Blood transfusion is a life-saving part of SCD care, especially for severe anaemia, acute chest syndrome, and stroke prevention and treatment. Yet many health facilities struggle to maintain adequate supplies of safe blood.

Low voluntary blood donation, limited public awareness, and constraints within blood transfusion systems can leave patients vulnerable when blood is urgently needed.

A blood donor being attended to by medical staff at a donation drive
A donor undergoing a red blood cell exchange procedure, giving a thumbs up

What Is Red Blood Cell Exchange?

Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCx) is a procedure that removes some of a patient's sickled red blood cells and replaces them with healthy donor red blood cells. For eligible patients, RBCx can form an important part of managing serious SCD complications and reducing the impact of sickled cells.

At approximately KSh 150,000 per procedure, RBCx is an expensive treatment and is currently not covered under Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Access is further limited by the availability of the service, with only a few public health facilities able to provide it.

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Am I Eligible?

According to the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority, to donate blood, one has to have the following criteria;

Age & Weight

  • Aged between 16 and 64 years
  • At least 50kg (women) or 55kg (men)

Health & Medication

  • Not currently on any medication
  • Not vaccinated in the recent past
  • In good health, free of chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma or heart disease
  • No recent blood transfusion or surgery

For Women

  • Not currently on your menstrual period
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding

Donation Interval

  • Men: at least 3 months since your last donation
  • Women: at least 4 months since your last donation

On the day, you'll go through a quick physical and health-history assessment - blood pressure, temperature, pulse, pregnancy, age and weight - to confirm you're fit to donate. It's completely FREE of charge No Cost

Ways to Make a Difference

Two volunteers at a World Sickle Cell Awareness Day event, holding a heart together in front of a 'Changia Damu, Okoa Maisha' blood donation banner

Host a Blood Drive

Rally your workplace, school, or community to host a blood donation drive and help increase the availability of safe blood for people living with SCD, and other patients who depend on transfusion.

For more information, chat with:

Kenya Tanzania
A collected unit of blood in transfusion bags with sample tubes, ready for processing

Donate for Red Blood Cell Exchange

Your financial contribution can help vulnerable people living with SCD access Red Blood Cell Exchange. Help make life-saving treatment more accessible.

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Share the Campaign

Spread the word to your network. Every share raises awareness and brings us closer to our September goals.

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