STORY: Eastern DR Congo faces blood supply shortage
DATELINE: June 15, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:06
LOCATION: BENI, DR Congo
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the provincial blood transfusion center in the Beni region
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): VIANNEY KAMBERE, Head of the provincial blood transfusion center in the Beni region
3. various of blood donation
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): ESDRAS KATEMBO, Blood donor in Beni
5. various of blood donation registration
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): TRESOR BAHATI, Coordinator of the association of voluntary blood donors of Beni

STORYLINE:

Local health authorities are concerned about the shortage of blood supply in the Beni region of the North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where local people are in great need of blood due to frequent anemic illnesses and violence on the rise.

The blood deficiency is mainly caused by the reluctance of voluntary donation and the logistical difficulties in obtaining supplies of blood bags.

For urgent solutions to the need for blood, some health structures simply resort to hot blood transfusion, without any health check-up, which presents high risk of transmission of diseases, said Vianney Kambere, head of the provincial blood transfusion center in the Beni region.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): VIANNEY KAMBERE, Head of the provincial blood transfusion center in the Beni region
"With the insecurity that we have, it is common to meet in our region of Beni cases that require secondary transfusions. This trauma can be caused by a stab wound or by firearms with the insecurity and all that we know with the terrorists here. There are people who come in situations of anemia because they have lost blood. We also have areas where there are blood banks yet. And other health areas don't have enough blood banks to cover 100 percent of the territory. The whole Oicha health zone has only a single blood bank. Imagine a person who would find himself in emergency with injuries and need to receive blood. There is no guarantee in the quality of the blood transfusion that they receive."

Despite these logistical difficulties, many people are still motivated to donate blood on a voluntary basis.

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): ESDRAS KATEMBO, Blood donor in Beni
"For almost 10 years I have been donating blood regularly every three months. I feel good and there is no problem and the joy is that I am saving lives. I donate blood because there will be someone who might need it. And especially with cases of accidents, massacres and several other cases, it requires blood (transfusion). So for those who are still reluctant to give, I invite them to give some. When you give out your blood, that's love."

Tresor Bahati, coordinator of the association of voluntary blood donors of Beni mentioned the importance of raising awareness of voluntary blood donations.

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): TRESOR BAHATI, Coordinator of the association of voluntary blood donors of Beni
"In the community, what is important is the popularization of the message. So it is to be in contact with the population. It is about direct awareness so you approach the person directly, in schools, churches, universities and higher institutions because they also help us to collect blood in order to supply the blood bank."

The Beni region is in the grip of violence by armed groups and clashes between militias and Congolese army. As a result, many victims end up with serious injuries, requiring blood donation.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beni, DR Congo.
(XHTV)