A blood collection campaign targeting donors with rare blood groups was organised recently at the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre (CRTS) in Marrakech. Rare blood groups are those that do not carry the rhesus factor (O-, A-, B-, AB-). The rarity of these groups has always posed a problem for both emergency doctors and sick people. Initiated by the Tensift-Al Haouz Association of Rare Blood Group Donors (ADGR), this solidarity operation was held under the slogan "Tbara'a bi damik, zid fi ajri siamek" and met with particular enthusiasm from citizens. Punctuated by artistic entertainment, this campaign brought together, in particular, donors with rare blood groups, members of the association, as well as other volunteers not belonging to the said groups, but wishing to fulfil a duty of solidarity. This highly commendable action intended to save human lives is intended as a contribution by the ADGR to the national blood donation campaign, the president of the Association, Mahmoud Abghach, confides to the newspaper "Le Matin". He also welcomed the success of this initiative, which made it possible to collect some 114 bags of blood. The first of its kind in Morocco, the ADGR has been working since its creation in 2012 to increase the number of donors with rare blood groups in order to guarantee the availability of a sufficient and permanent stock for the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre. It also has the mission of setting up a database of these donors that benefits the CRTS. Blood donation remains a major concern for both patients and hospital services in charge of building up stocks of blood products, in order to meet needs during surgical interventions or to overcome certain serious blood diseases.

In this context, volunteers emphasised the need to sensitise donors to the need to strengthen blood donation and to eradicate stereotypes linked to safety and the equipment used. Blood donation is not yet anchored in the customs of citizens. There is still a lack of trust in transfusion structures, they note. And to conclude that donating blood is a generous gesture and that collection should be an everyday act.