Campaign stresses blacks’ blood donations

SPRINGFIELD— Advocates are reaching out to African-American lawmakers to help recruit blood donors from the black community.

Members of the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers and the Legislative Black Caucus announced the “Make Every Drop Count” campaign Wednesday.

Diseases such as sickle cell anemia, hypertension, lupus and prostate cancer are more prevalent among blacks.

Blood center coalition president Ann McKanna says they often require more blood transfusions and the best source of new blood is often from a black donor. But she says blacks donate less than 1 percent of the country’s supply.

Homewood Democratic Rep. Will Davis is chairman of the Black Caucus. He says blacks are put at risk when fellow blacks don’t donate.

People can safely donate blood every 56 days.