|
Intermix.org.uk is a website for the benefit
of mixed-race families, individuals and anyone who feels they have a multiracial
identity and want to join us. Our mission is to offer a view of the mixed-race experience, highlighting icons, film, books, poetry, parenting techniques, celebrities, real lives and much more. Our online forums are a great place to meet others, ask questions, voice your opinions and keep in touch. Sign up for our monthly newsletter and delve into our pages. Want to join in? Become an Intermix member to take part: |
Are You My Type?
National Blood Service aims campaign at minorities.
The National Blood Service has recently launched a campaign called 'Are You My Type', to encourage people from ethnic minorities to give more blood. The NBS says the issue is extremely important because a number
of blood types are more common and specific to people from certain ethnic backgrounds. For example blood group B is more commonly found in black African/Caribbean populations and U negative - a rare sub-group - is only found in these communities. Furthermore 25% of Asians are blood group B
compared to 8% of western Europeans.
The campaign has been backed by a number of celebrities including Trevor Nelson, Raghav, Preeva Kalidas and BBC radio presenter, Anita Rani who says: 'It costs us nothing and can save lives. If you can, give blood, there's no excuse not to, all my family do.' June Sarpong, TV presenter also commented: 'I would definitely give blood because you never know when you might need it yourself.'
New research released last week by the NBS has shown that Britain's ethnic minorities are nearly six times less likely to know their own blood type when compared to the national average. According to the findings only 7% of ethnic minorities say that they know their own blood type compared to 41% (19 million) nationally. The findings also reflect an already acknowledged and even more concerning gap that exists between the way in which different ethnic minorities and white Britons view the whole issue of donating blood. According to NBS data about 1.6 million people gave blood last year (5% of the eligible population), and only 3% of these were from Asian, African and African Caribbean communities.
If you don't know your blood group you can ask your doctor to perform a test for you. If you want to give blood and are between the ages of 17 and 60, fit and healthy then contact the National Blood Service by clicking here.
