Senegal: Regional Blood Drives Aim to Reduce Maternal Mortality

Working with women's groups to mobilize community members about the importance of blood supplies in the fight against maternal mortality, CEDPA/Senegal is aiming to achieve nationwide coverage for all blood needs by organizing 11 regional blood drives. In Senegal, the maternal mortality rate is 510 deaths per 100,000 live births. More than 28 percent of these deaths are related to hemorrhages, and the local blood banks do not have the resources to respond to the demand for transfusions. More than 50 percent of all requests for blood transfusions are issued by maternity services.