Paul Howell MP celebrates Black History Month supporting the NHS Blood and Transplant call for more donors of Black Heritage
This national celebration aims to celebrate, remember, and reflect on the contributions of African and Caribbean heritage people to the British economy, culture, and history. This Black History Month, NHS Blood and Transplant is highlighting the need for more Blood and Organ donors of Black heritage to meet the needs of Black heritage patients.
Sickle cell disorder patients who receive regular blood transfusions need 100 blood donors per year, on average, to stay alive. Without generous blood donations, these treatments would not be possible, negatively affecting people's lives. This year, the NHS urgently need 12,000 new Black donors to regularly give blood to treat sickle cell disorder. Around half of people of Black heritage have the blood types needed to treat patients with sickle cell disorder.
The breadth, talent and achievements of the Black community in relation to Parliament will be marked with a series of celebratory events and projects for Black History Month.
This includes the launch of a new educational resource for primary schools, in partnership with Onyinye Iwu, a teacher and freelance illustrator, which contains stories of influential Black Britons who have impacted UK laws and equal rights.
Stories will be produced in a flexible format so schools can choose how they use them.
This years theme for Black History Month is Saluting Our Sisters and the#WeMatterMovement. It will feature a national poetry competition and an education pack, providing students with opportunities to learn about and celebrate the contributions of black women throughout history. The competition encourages young people to express themselves creatively and learn about the diverse experiences, struggles and triumphs of black women.
