Minority Outreach Recruitment and Education
Together we can make a difference as Hoxworth Blood Center brings MORE (Minority Outreach, Recruitment and Education) into YOUR community.
Our Mission
To address the under-representation of minority blood donors in the provision of heath-care initiatives aimed at optimally utilizing minority donations to reduce adverse consequences of random donor transfusion, primarily in the Sickle Cell patient community.
The desired outcome is to produce a reduction in the incidence of first-time stroke in children under the age of twelve while avoiding the complication of alloimmunization. Alloimmunization is a natural immune response to proteins (red blood cells) different from your own. This response can adversely limit the availability of compatible red blood cells for future transfusion support. Blood from minority donors offers the best likelihood of avoiding this complication.
In an effort to increase the number of minority blood donors, Hoxworth Blood Center created the MORE program. To ensure the programs continued success, it is critical to involve more local leaders and community partners to assist in the development of this program.
Minority Recruitment
As a minority blood donor, you may have the unique ability to help patients with unique transfusion needs. Many African Americans, for example, have a higher probability of lacking red blood cell proteins, such as the "U antigen" and "Fy(a) and Fy(b) antigen", commonly seen in the random donor population.
The presence of these proteins, when transfused to a Sickle Cell patient, can result in alloimmunication and antibody formation. Once an antibody is formed, that patient must always receive blood from individuals lacking the specific protein that caused the antibody to be produced. Because of this, an African American patient with sickle cell anemia is less likely to go thru the alloimmunization process when given blood donated from other African Americans.
It is vital that our blood supply reflect the diversity of our population to best meet the needs of all of our patients.
Fast Facts About Minority Donations
One in 12 African Americans carries the trait for sickle cell disease and one in 652 African Americans have sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell patients who frequently need blood transfusions are less likely to have adverse reactions when receiving blood from other African Americans.
Nationally speaking, 37 percent of the American population is eligible to donate blood. Of the 37 percent eligible, under 10 percent actually donate. Of the 10 percent who donate, less than 1 percent are African American.
Increasing minority donations are important because blood types O and B, the blood types of 70 percent of African Americans, are the blood types most in demand. Consequently, these types are the first to run out during a blood shortage.
African Americans are at greater risk than Caucasians for cancer, heart disease and birth complications. All of which often require blood transfusion.
Contact Us
For additional information about MORE and how you can become involved, please contact the Hoxworth Blood Center Appointment Center at (513) 451-0910. Ask for the Minority Outreach Recruitment and Education representative.
Updated 2/22/10
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