Though millions of people worldwide suffer from Sickle Cell Disease, the general public is still very uninformed about its impact. It’s estimated that about 300,000 children are born with the disease each year. (Source NPR)
According to the CDC, “SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In someone who has SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a ‘sickle.’ The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also, when they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems such infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.”
Some people, like myself, have the Sickle Cell Trait but not the disease. This means that we have, “one sickle cell gene and one normal gene.” Sickle Cell Disease can occur when both parents of a child have the trait. In this case, there is a 25% chance of the child having SCD. (Source CDC )
Though Sickle Cell Disease affects people from various ethnic backgrounds, it is highly prevalent in people of African descent. The Sickle Cell Trait may have developed as a natural resistant to Malaria. Researchers believe,”Due to its protective effect against malaria, the sickle mutation may have been naturally selected in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is endemic and one of the major causes of death.” (Source Science Daily)
Some patients require blood transfusions to treat severe anemia. This is where Black blood donors come in because people of similar ethnic backgrounds are more likely to have the same blood type. The success of transfusions highly depends on the similarity in blood types.
Recently one blood donation center encountered some confusion about this and was even accused of being racist for asking for more Black blood donors. Check out their excellent and informative response below:
Do black people have ‘special’ blood? Are we being racist? Is race a social construct? 🙄 Let’s break it down. pic.twitter.com/D6RFTj87rl
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
First up – blood does the same thing for everyone’s body – it keeps you alive and saves lives. ISSA FACT! pic.twitter.com/ZStlKU7Oeh
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
Everyone’s blood IS NOT the same, so you can stop calling us racist. pic.twitter.com/PtRMQdYseG
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
Blood can have more than 30 different types or blood groups. You’ve all heard of ABO, right? That’s one blood group. 🅰️🅱️🅾️🆎
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
And you’ve heard of people being ‘positive’ or ‘negative’? That’s another blood group.
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
And you’ve heard of people being ‘positive’ or ‘negative’? That’s another blood group.
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
mid-thread pause for a shout out to the O negative crew, the donors whose blood can go to anyone. pic.twitter.com/78Wng99YUi
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
Blood groups are more or less common in different ethnic groups. So black people are more likely to have, say, B negative blood.
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
It’s not to say white or Asian people can’t be B negative, or that all black people are B negative.
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
It just means people from the same ethnic background are more likely to have the same blood groups.
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
And for blood transfusions to work, you need well matched blood groups. pic.twitter.com/WFfXBg38Xx
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
NOW this is where it gets really important, so please make sure to take notes and stop messing at the back. pic.twitter.com/sZLIQAEqJS
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
Black people are more likely to have a rare subgroup called Ro. Ten times more likely than a white person. pic.twitter.com/1A6LIMXR5P
— GiveBlood NHS 💉 (@GiveBloodNHS) November 7, 2017
Based on the explanation above, more Black blood donors will save more Black lives affected by Sickle Cell Disease. Unfortunately, the medical field is highly distrusted by many communities of African descent due to past and recent mistreatment and abuse (Source TheHill). Still the need for Black blood donors exists and would benefit Black patients greatly.
Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor is the founder of OurLegaci.com. To reach Jessica, email her at OurLegaci@gmail.com. Follow her on Facebook at Facebook.com/JAMAiwuyor.
