Convincing 500 blood donors of African descent: the challenge of two young women from Brussels

Anne-Marie Masenga Ompeta and her friend Salvina Ikoli have set a goal for 2026: to recruit 500 new donors of African descent to help the Red Cross. This group is currently underrepresented among all donors. However, people of African descent have a rare blood type, essential for ensuring safe and effective transfusions for certain patients.

This is the case for patients with sickle cell disease, such as Anne-Marie. This serious genetic disease affects red blood cells and requires intensive treatment; in her case, transfusions "every 6 weeks, of six to 11 units of blood ." It is more common in people of sub-Saharan or Mediterranean origin.

And during a transfusion, blood compatibility is essential; " it's not enough to have the same blood type A, B, O, or AB. Many markers, the antigens, must be compatible ," explains Dr. Barbara Dessars, Red Cross manager of the Erasme blood collection center. " These markers are genetically transmitted […] There is a blood subgroup present in 50 to 70% of populations of sub-Saharan origin, but only in 2.5% of populations of Caucasian origin ."

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disease in Belgium, affecting 1 in 2500 births and 1 in 1500 births in the Brussels region.

Anne-Marie and Salvina are campaigning on TikTok, Instagram, and their digital platforms, via the account @adrepalifestyle and adrepalifestyle.org

Learn more on RTBF: https://www.rtbf.be/article/convaincre-500-donneurs-de-sang-afrodescendants-le-defi-de-deux-jeunes-bruxelloises-11671412