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Rabat – Morocco is facing a critical shortage of blood supply, needing more than 1,000 donations per day to achieve self-sufficiency, the National Blood Transfusion and Hematology Center (CNTSH) said.
To address the urgent need for increased blood donations, the CNTSH launched on Wednesday a nationwide blood donation campaign under the theme “Blood Donation is Everyone’s Responsibility.”
The launch coincided with World Blood Donor Day, which is commemorated on June 14 each year.
The center indicated that Morocco currently falls short of achieving self-sufficiency, with a donor rate of 0.92% compared to the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 1%.
In 2022, Morocco witnessed a slight increase in blood donations, reaching nearly 340,000 donations, a 6% increase compared to the previous year.
Despite the increase in donations, Morocco remains far from achieving self-sufficiency amid the rising demand for blood, the center indicated. The country’s current blood reserves can only cover six to seven days, far below the recommended level.
Read also: Casablanca’s Blood Banks in Desperate Need Of Donations
The shortage is particularly acute in major cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and Marrakech, where the demand for blood is high. Meanwhile, some regions have reserves that can last up to 10 days.
The campaign aims to underline the importance of blood donation and to recognize the contributions of donors in saving lives and improving health.
In addition, it seeks not only to encourage citizens to donate blood but also to retain regular donors and ensure a continuous blood supply.
The CNTSH also emphasized the importance of coordinating between institutions, partners, and blood transfusion centers to organize effective donation campaigns.
In this respect, the center unveiled plans to expand its blood collection centers to bring donation services closer to citizens.
