A NEW campaign has been launched to encourage more people from South Asian communities to register as blood and organ donors.

It is the result of a partnership between the Sewa Day charity and NHS Blood and Transplant and saw a successful donation drive at the Bradford Donor Centre.

Manoj Ladwa, Sewa Day chairman, said: “People from South Asian communities have contributed generously in many ways in making the UK their home.

“Around eight per cent of the population of England is Asian but only around three per cent of people who have given blood in England in the last 12 months is Asian.

“Asian donors are more likely to have rare blood types and require these rare types so it is essential that we have more blood donors from these communities.”

He added: “When people from South Asian communities find out they may have rare blood and tissue types, I’m sure they will want to do everything they can to help save lives.

“There are many South Asian people who actively donate blood but we need more. I urge people to find out if they can donate blood, register and book an appointment to donate online, and also join the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their family that they want to save lives through organ donation.

“One day it could be someone you love who needs an organ transplant or a blood transfusion.”

Geraldine Parker, National Blood marketing manager for minority communities, said: “People from South Asian communities can be susceptible to conditions, such as thalassaemia, which leave them requiring regular blood transfusions. Blood from a donor with a similar ethnic background is more likely to provide them with the best match and offer better long-term outcomes for patients.”

It is estimated that in 2017 around 925 blood donations were collected at sessions organised in partnership with Sewa Day across 25 cities.

Mike Stredder, director of Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We are very grateful that Sewa Day is working with us to help save more lives and by becoming a blood donor, you can save up to three lives every time you donate. It has been a really positive experience working with Sewa Day project.”

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He said it had been “inspiring” to see communities promote blood donation and the charity’s focus on helping others through its work. Sessions in temples were also offered free of charge.

The number of Asian blood donors is increasing.

By the end of 2017, there were 11,000 donors from an Indian Asian background, which is a seven per cent increase on the end of the previous year.

The partnership also hopes to help address the shortage of South Asian organ donors.

To register as a new blood donor, visit blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. And to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.