Blood Donation & Sensitization
Promoting voluntary blood donation and helping save lives
On 3 July 2021, ASCOA conducted a Blood Donation and Sensitization Campaign along Molyko Street in Buea, in collaboration with Buea General Hospital. The initiative was organized to commemorate International Blood Donor Day and address misconceptions surrounding voluntary blood donation.
The campaign was prompted by concerns about low blood availability in hospitals and negative perceptions that discouraged some members of the public from donating blood. ASCOA recognized the need to provide accurate information, address community concerns, and encourage voluntary blood donation as an important contribution to saving lives.
Before the campaign, ASCOA held planning and preparatory meetings with health experts from Buea General Hospital. Volunteers received guidance on communicating accurate information about blood donation and responding appropriately to questions raised by community members. On the day of the campaign, 20 volunteers were organized into four teams to conduct door-to-door and street-based sensitization along the Molyko corridor, from Check Point to University Junction. Over three hours, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, the teams engaged community members, administered questionnaires, and gathered feedback on their willingness to donate blood.
The campaign recorded encouraging responses. A total of 110 people expressed willingness to donate blood in the future, while 19 people declared an immediate willingness to donate. These responses helped ASCOA understand community attitudes toward blood donation and identify opportunities for further engagement.
