logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
21m 33s

Why aren’t more of us donating blood?

Bbc World Service
About this episode
Friends and family are often called on to donate blood to loved ones in a medical emergency or ahead of routine surgery. But across the continent, there is a shortfall in blood needed for life saving transfusions. The World Health Organisation estimates that they are only meeting half the need. Aisha Dafalla and Kennedy Sanya are Kenya’s biggest donors. Betw ... Show More
Up next
Jul 9
Focus on Africa: Ghanaians lured into football job scam
Ghanaian authorities have rescued more than 70 young men from a trafficking ring in Nigeria. The men thought they were heading for football contracts or overseas opportunities. Why has football become a gateway for trafficking? Leaders from five African countries - Gabon, Guinea- ... Show More
28m 15s
Jul 1
Focus on Africa: Why has polio re-emerged in Angola?
Angola was certified as polio-free in 2015, but is now combating a new outbreak of the disease after several cases were reported in a Western province. What has caused the virus to come back?A new report says Islamist militants are using Starlink technology to ramp up operational ... Show More
33m 9s
Jun 10
Focus on Africa: Russia's Wagner Group leaves Mali
Russia says the paramilitary group Wagner has accomplished its mission and has left Mali, although a Russian presence remains in the West African country, through the Africa Corps. So what did the Wagner Group achieve?Why has a separatist movement on the tiny, remote island of An ... Show More
33m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Why do we donate blood?
One of the things that makes blood so special is we can share it with other people! Scientists and doctors have figured out safe ways to take the blood from one person and put it into the body of a different person who needs it. That’s called a transfusion. Why would someone need ... Show More
13m 8s
Mar 2024
The Lifesaving Power of Blood Donations - 396 Feat. Stevo The Madman
In this episode Stevo and the guys shed light on the crucial need for blood donations to support individuals with sickle cell, particularly within the black community. Sickle cell, a severe and lifelong health condition that predominantly affects people of African and Caribbean h ... Show More
24m 47s
Mar 2022
The demography of blood groups
Knowing your blood group is handy information if you need a blood transfusion, or even an organ transplant. And it's essential information for the blood bank recruiting donors who match your blood type—and for people needing a blood product. 
8m 22s
May 2024
Infected Blood: The PM apologies for a 50 year cover-up
The infected blood scandal was "not an accident" and its failures lie with "successive governments, the NHS, and blood services", a public inquiry has found.  More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from 1970 to 1991 after being given contaminated blood pro ... Show More
20m 46s
May 2023
Update: Blood Donation
Recently, the FDA has updated their guidelines on who can donate blood and when – an update that has long been demanded. So we bring the full episode about Dr. Charles Drew and the history of blood donation, along with the new guidelines and why these changes were finally made.Mu ... Show More
46m 17s
May 2024
Infected Blood Inquiry: Will victims finally get justice?
Thousands of people died after being given infected blood transfusions by the NHS.     They were people with haemophilia, women giving birth, and cancer patients who died after contracting HIV or Hepatitis C from infected blood.     An inquiry has been studying millions of pages ... Show More
22m 46s
Mar 2021
102 Transfusions of Blood Products
Join EM physicians Mike Samuels and Dan McCollum as they discuss different blood products that can be transfused.  Why don't we commonly use whole blood? Who needs to receive packed red blood cells? Are there any dangers to giving platelets? When is fresh frozen plasma needed?  E ... Show More
25m 39s
Mar 2023
Why do we have blood and what does it do?
Why do people have blood, what is it, and what does it do? How do our bodies make new blood? Is it red or blue? Why does blood taste like metal? And why do we have different blood types? Our listeners have a lot of questions about blood. We learn about blood with UVM Medical Cent ... Show More
32m 28s