How to start a voluntary blood donor organization!

1. How to start a voluntary blood donor organization! Why and how can a volunteer association help to ensure fullsufficiency in safe blood?

2. The WHO, the ISBT and the Red Cross all recommend that each country should be self-sufficient in blood from voluntary, anonymous non-remunerated donors: • World Health Assembly resolution 28.72: urging all Member States to promote the development of national blood transfusion services based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donation! WHO aide memoire states: “It is the responsibility of governments to ensure a safe and adequate supply of blood!”

3. Why start a voluntary donororganization? The goal or mission of your organization could be that there shall always be sufficient blood to all patients in all hospitals in your town/region/country Your town/region/country shall be self sufficient in all blood and plasma products at any time. Your blood services should use only regular, non-remunerated, voluntary and anonymous blood donors.

4. A national donor organization can also benefit from international cooperation – and represent the donors (and hence the patients) towards the government etc.Any donor association should be funded bygovernment sources, as all Ministers of Health have voted for these goals, and not by private sponsors.There shall be no profit in blood. And all donation should be voluntary and non-remunerated – by law ! • (No, this is not from a Supermarket!): A donor-organization can help to defendethical and politicalinterests of the blood supply and protect against exploitation

5. Replications of an efficient donor organization • When self-sufficient in blood, the patients will benefit from safer and cheaper treatment • Donors and volunteers will get higher self-esteem and respect, • Young people get a possibility to contribute to their society and train participation in their society (democracy). • You develop a culture ofcooperation and solidarity • Volunteers bring resources from outside the hospitals and blood-banks

6. Legal differences between paid blood and non-remunerated donation of blood: Paid blood is covered by the right of property, rules for free trade, rights to equal market access and WTO-rules. A right to sell blood (incl. plasma)implies that any reason for donor deferral has to be interpretednarrowly. Non-remuneration can be an effective barrier to avoidunethical trade, dumping of productsandmarket forces. A gift is exempt from general rules governing market access!

7. Voluntary donation • If blood donation is notvoluntary, it is a clear breach of the right of “respect of person”, (e.g.: prisoners, soldiers, medical staff, family donations, replacement donations.) • The donor has the right to an explanation – so all deferral should be made on ascientific basis – also to avoid undue discrimination. Evidence based deferrals are a must.

8. (Sorry, but most conscripted soldiers are not really volunteering to become donors!)

9. Sustainability Well functioning donor associations makes it possible to sustain a constant inflow of donors. With strong networks, more donors continue. New donors are found by direct personal contact. Present donors are the best to recruit new donors. Voluntary organizations are low cost = economical sustainability. But recruitment and retention cost some money! And it may take years - and much patience!!!

10. Essential to have full support of your government (Ministry of Health) The president of Malta supporting the local donor organization

11. All health ministers have subscribed to the Resolutions of the World Health Assembly.Health ministries have direct contact to and influence on national blood supplies.They can spread the message about the need for voluntary donor organizations.Blood banks must be up-to-date to attract voluntary donors (necessary funding). Legislationoutlawing paid blood is necessary.

12. You will also have to contact central lawmakers to outlaw paid blood

13. Good quality and efficiency in blood services is a must, if you will develop voluntary donor organizations

14. So you must work with the blood bank staff to guarantee good service to the donors.

15. Efficient service • a friendly environment, • donor friendly opening hours, • pleasant rooms, modern beds and well equipped waiting rooms • taxi-pickups arrive in time, • opening hours must be respected, • parking-spaces reserved for the donors, • beverages and food must be OK, • letters were sent to the right addresses – with correct data etc. • And the most important: NO WAITING !!!!

16. There must be no waste of blood,and minimal outdating

17. Safety of the donor, proper medical help with accidents - and insurance if needed

18. Donor data must be kept properly protected within the blood bank, but names and addresses belong to the donor association = membership of the organization. Donor organizations can have great help from patient’s organizations. Co-operation between blood bank doctors, donor associations and patients can motivate all involved for a better blood service and improved donor recruitment!

19. Donor recruitment costs money!! Blood servicescan either pay the donors, pay for marketing or give the money for volunteer recruitment and retention.Donor payment is unethical, gives the blood system a bad reputation and is not good for blood safety. Marketing is not cost-effective.Volunteers work for free and bring expertise to the blood banks from the outside society! Only direct costs need to be covered.

20. Use local donor organizations! Let volunteers help! They work for free, but of course:donor recruitment and retention does cost money. Each blood center should have a local donor association, run by volunteers. All donors should belong to the local donor association. NO fee! The local donor organisation should receive a (small) paymentforeach bagcollected by the center and/or a payment for each donor recruited.

21. (Everyday activities of a volunteer blood donor association!)

22. Donors shouldbewell informed • leassflets, posters and questionnaires should be 100% correct • Use e-mail and web-sites for quick information up-date • Have a comprehensive media approach (blood service and donor association!)

23. Information to donors is the key! Donor magazine: Homepage: Newsletters.

24. Be visible!!!! • Choose your name carefully! • Act offensively in the media • Easyphone-numbers & e-mails • Home-page, constantly updated! • Streamline lay-outof leaflets etc. • Mail a donor magazine to all the donors: Relevant information,they pass it to others, picks up anymoves,feeling ofbelongingto the blood supply • Regular newsletters to volunteers and the press. • Have a yearlynational campaignWorld Blood Donor Day, 14 June Blood donor of the year ! • Recruitment cards, distributed atelection days, local markets, marathons, rail-stations,rock-festivals, sports-events, national scout-camps etc. etc.

25. Donors should be recognized continuously !!! • Use directed press-coverage at donor jubilees to higher the self-esteem of the donors • Say thanks after each donation • Send recognitions from your Head of State or other well-known role model

26. Donors are thinking human beings !! Altruism is good – but respect for the donor is even better, and it is best shown by being efficient! A donor organization should be modern, respected and well run! You will also need professionalstaff to do some task, which volunteers can’t or won’t

27. Campaign towardsyoung people: • Young ambassadors group, trained young volunteers - presence in schools, at festivals etc • Advertise in school calendars, football books, study-books etc. • Make poster competitions • Book on blood directed towards young people • Leaflets + cards addressed directly to young people • International cooperation • Club 25. • Young people at the national office, • Training sessions for young volunteers

28. Local and national networks ! You can not do it alone, so you must date take contact with other voluntary organizations (scouts, Rotary, church groups, labor unions, sports organizations, large companies etc.)They can have blood donation as a good side-activity to their main work.Two out of three donors are recruited by direct personal contact. So networks are essential!!

29. Why use volunteers in blood donor recruitment and retention? • Volunteers have their own ways, unpaid, less control, BUT • 1. networks to scout-groups, sports-organizations, trade-unions, Rotary, staff of large companies etc. • 2. bring in fellow volunteers – different prospect of society (doctors do not know everyting!) • 3. (often paid recruiters are underpaid (!), and tend not to remain) • 4. (You can not recruit by telephone !!) • 5. You need direct personal contact = need many people (e.g. young ambassadors), who can contact directly. 2 out of 3 donors are recruited this way!

30. The “easy” way out is to pay the donors! • - but paid donation gives the act of blood donation LOW status. • - paid blood is unsafe • -blood is not a commodity to be traded • The act of blood donation should be respected, and praised by role-models, queens, kings and presidents. Our Protector: HRH the Crown Prince

31. Volunteers dowork !! Efficient workandclose cooperationof government, blood bank staff and volunteer associations is the key to success in blood donor recruitment and retention! • (and if you can not give blood, you can give sweat !)

32. International partners: • Contact with volunteers in other countries can be helpful • WHO has developed donor manuals • The Red Cross organize donor recruitment colloquiums • FIODS organize regional training conferences • FIODS Solidarity Foundation co-finance projects • ISBT Foundation may also help with projects • We all work together on World Blood Donor Day

33. www.fiods.org Thank you for your attention!! Mikkelsen@bloddonor.dk