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It is now the cross and the banner to be able to obtain blood bags at the National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS). And for good reason, donors have become extremely rare. The first officials of the CNTS do not rule out as an essential reason the health crisis linked to Covid-19 or the vaccination against the virus.
One of the first questions doctors ask is if you’ve ever had the Covid-19 vaccine. If this is the case, you will have to turn back and not come back until 3 months later.
Doctors explain that after vaccination against Covid-19, we deduce that the body now contains an attenuated virus that could infect the blood. And therefore, it is not prudent to take this sample for transfusion to another patient.
Togo has launched since March 10, 2021, a vast vaccination campaign and since April 9, 2021, people aged 30 and over are invited to be voluntarily vaccinated.
The strong shortage of blood bags observed at the CNTS is not only due to vaccination but even more to the health crisis itself.
« Between February and April 2020, blood donations increased from 4,011 in February to 2,312 in March and 2,103 in April », Noted Sena Yao Tete, in charge of promoting blood donation at the CNTS. He says he sees an intrinsic link between this drop and Covid-19.
For him, the population is reluctant to donate blood at the start of the pandemic for fear of being contaminated during blood donation or even seeing their immunity diminish.
« The measures taken by the government in the response against covid-19, including the closure of schools and colleges and the ban on gatherings of more than 15 people, also impacted the collection. », Raised Sena Yao Tete while explaining that before the pandemic, associations organized activities during which they included blood donation. But there was no longer any of these mobilizations.
Also, he specifies, mobile blood drives which are good opportunities to raise awareness and collect a large number of blood bags have been suspended since March 2020.
« We appeal to all those who are still hesitant to donate blood. There is no better gift than to donate blood to save a life. We are all candidates for blood transfusion, no one is spared », Launched the head of promotion of blood donation.
This shortage situation not only worries the nursing staff and the staff of the CNTS but also the people who need it for their patient.
« I have a patient in the hospital and we were prescribed 4 bags of blood. Today is the third day that I was able to get a pouch. I say that even thank you because there are some who are still not served », Told Folly Agbo, met on April 14 at the CNTS in search of blood bags to save his sister.
According to Diane Misseboukpo, the situation is really serious. ” I donate my blood but I did more than 4 hours of time before being served while before, we are served in 1 hour at most », She confided.
