blood matters

It is vital that we all try and give blood – if you're eligible your donation can really help. And crucially, blood types vary by ethnic origin; that's why it is important that there is plenty of each type. You can make a real difference – whichever community you are from.

Blood Matters is an animated series that looks at the issues surrounding blood donation from different viewpoints to find out why we should all get involved. View the short films by clicking on the images below.

What's Blood Got To Do With It?

© C4

An entertaining whirlwind tour through the history of the uses and misuses of blood from ancient times through to the modern day, mixing informative narrative and humorous visuals. Narrated by refreshingly absurd comedian Alexei Sayle.

» View programme

Blood Sutra

© C4

A comic treatise debunking some of the myths surrounding blood donation, from a British-Asian perspective. Using Bollywood soundtracks and techno-tantric animation, this humorous piece exposes the characters and caricatures that make up some of the ingrained misconceptions of blood donation amongst the South Asian community.

» View programme

The Circle

© C4

A young Chinese woman tells the story of her determination to overcome family fears and objections to become a regular blood donor. Using live footage, animation and photographs the filmmaker juxtaposes the importance of an ancient heritage and respect for the family with a contemporary Chinese perspective.

» View programme

For further information about the issues raised in the programmes, and details of support organisations, check out the links below.

help and info

Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites.

organisations

The National Blood Service
Freepost
75 Cranmer Terrace
London SW17 7YB
National donor helpline: 0845 7 711 711 (24 hours)
Website: www.blood.co.uk
Website for the visually impaired: www.blood.co.uk/visually_impaired/vi_index.html
The National Blood Service is an integral part of the NHS, delivering blood, blood components, blood products and tissues throughout England and North Wales. They depend entirely on voluntary donations from the general public, and try to encourage existing donors to give three times a year. They are continually carrying out research into improving the safety of blood and new ways it can be used to help save more lives. You can find session details on BBC2 Ceefax page 465. For more information about the issues seen in the programmes, visit www.blood.co.uk/pages/world_blood.html.

Sickle Cell Society
54 Station Road
London, NW10 4UA
Tel: 020 8961 7795
E-mail: info@sicklecellsociety.org
Website: www.sicklecellsociety.org
UK based organisation committed to raising funds to promote education and providing information, counselling and caring for those with sickle cell disorders and their families. The website includes research findings and pain management techniques, news, teaching resources, events, employment information, information for health professionals, and a publication listing.

Ibrahim's Appeal
E-mail: ibbys@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.ibrahimsappeal.com
Bone marrow appeal set up by the parents, family and friends of Ibrahim Meer who died before a donor could be found. The appeal aims to increase the number of Asian/diverse people on the bone marrow and blood donation registries in conjunction with the Anthony Nolan Trust and National Blood Service. The website details forthcoming clinics and other ways to help.

Anthony Nolan Trust
The Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead
London NW3 2QG
Tel: 020 7284 1234
E-mail: admin@anthonynolan.org.uk
Website: www.anthonynolan.org.uk
Maintains a register of people who wish to donate their bone marrow for someone who needs it and undertakes research into improving the outcome of bone marrow transplantation. Potential donors will need to meet their health criteria. More information can be found on their website.

websites

NHS Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening Programme
www.kcl-phs.org.uk/haemscreening
The NHS Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening Programme aims to establish high quality newborn screening programmes for sickle cell disorders and antenatal screening programmes for sickle cell and thalassaemia. It is committed to ensuring that informed decision-making by women and their families is integral to the programme.

Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Association of counsellors (STAC)
www.stacuk.org
A group chaired by a member of the NBS marketing team and comprised of NBS staff, counsellors who work in NHS centres for sickle cell and thalassaemia, and representatives from the voluntary sector. It was formed three years ago to encourage donation from Ethnic Minority communities, mainly Black Caribbean.

African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust
http://www.aclt.org/
Charity aiming to aim to register as many 18- to 45-year-old potential life savers of African, African Caribbean and Mixed Parentage descent onto the UK Bone Marrow Register.

British Medical Journal
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/…
Article from May 2003 about promoting blood donation among British Muslims.

North London Chinese Association
http://www.nlca.org.uk…
A website for anyone who wishes to learn more about the Chinese Community in the area of North London. It provides various services including education and welfare rights advisory, as well as organising many activities and events for Chinese people promoting the Chinese culture. Most of all, the association is a means to the local authorities, public service providers and resources.

South Asian Development Partnership
www.southasian.org.uk/organdonation.html
A group of Asian and UK business professionals that works to understand the social, cultural, moral and ethical issues associated with organ donation and transplants amongst South Asians and to encourage and motivate South Asians to become organ donors for the benefit of the community.

UK Transplant
www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/
questions/answers/further_info/ethnic_communities.jsp
UK Transplant has one focus - to save or improve the lives of thousands of people every year through organ transplantation. The above link has more information on organ donation and specifically the South Asian, African and African-Caribbean communities.

reading

	ABC of Transfusion by Marcela Contreras (Ed) (BMJ Books 1998) Covers the protocols for blood transfusion including discussion of donors, tests, complications and screening for hepatitis C. Get this book
	Handbook of Transfusion Medicine: Blood Transfusion Services of the United Kingdom by D B L McClelland (Ed) (The Stationery Office Books, 2001) Aims to help people involved in blood transfusion to make sure that the right blood product is given to the right patient at the right time. Includes topics such as blood donors, new products, obstetrics, transfusion of the newborn infant and infections. Get this book
	Minority Ethnic Communities and Health by Dr Syed Nayyar Abidi (United Healthcare Publications, 2001) Described as the first ever Urdu healthcare book for the Asian community. There is a chapter specifically about blood donation. Other issues covered include diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and cancer. Get this book

(September 2004)