A travelling exhibit, Sang%Utile, will be hosted at three Brussels hospitals during Blood Cancer Awareness Month as part of a campaign by the Belgian Red cross, several patient associations, and haematologists. The exhibit aims to promote blood and stem cell donations.
Approximately 500,000 units of blood are needed annually to meet demand. However, there is currently an insufficient number of blood donors: only one in ten Belgians donates blood, while one in seven will need it someday.
"Every donation can help treat up to three patients. We need all blood types. Given the complexity and influence of our origins on blood types, the diversity of blood donors should reflect the diversity of patients," explained Dr. Neijens, the head physician of the Blood Service in the Brussels-Capital Region at the Belgian Red Cross.
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, 1,240,000 new cases of blood cancer are diagnosed globally. In Belgium, this equates to 7,800 diagnoses, or 21 per day.
The public can visit this exhibition from 19 to 23 September at Erasme Hospital, from 24 to 30 September at the Jules Bordet Institute, and from 19 to 27 September at UZ Brussel.
