October 2023 - Online training for family / replacement blood donor recruitment, plus new brochures and posters to print
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Dear
In this edition, we share with you new resources supporting the IFRC Blood Policy which advocates for 100% voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) in every country, while building a stable pool of the safest possible blood donors. Available now is a new online training module, information sheet and customisable brochures and posters all containing suggested strategies for retaining replacement donors as regular voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
We also invite any National Societies who have not yet submitted their survey for the Global Mapping Report to take this opportunity to ensure your National Society is represented in this highly regarded report. If you are unsure whether your National Society has returned their survey, please contact GAP and we will be able to advise.
We always value your feedback or ideas on resources or topics of interest so please send these to gapsecretariat@redcrossblood.org.au.
Family and replacement blood donors: Online learning
Retaining replacement donors as regular donors! For those countries working toward the goal of 100% VNRBD, how can we ensure a safe and stable donor pool? We can implement strategies that encourage our replacement donors to return and become regular donors. It is all about education and it starts with us.
In this online education session, you will look at different scenarios and learn the strategies that will encourage donors to return and become regular donors. From recognising the barriers and vulnerabilities families face when needing to find a replacement donor, to establishing a good relationship with all donors through customer service, this training will ensure you have donors coming back again and again!
The course is 25 minutes long and available in English.
Access this on your computer or any mobile device. You can also complete the course offline by downloading it from the IFRC Learning Platform mobile app.
Family and replacement blood donors: customisable posters and brochures
Encouraging family and replacement donors to continue donating regularly can be aided with these posters and brochures developed by GAP. These online materials are available to download and customise to your blood program.
The posters and brochures are available in English, French and Spanish.
Family and replacement blood donors: information sheet
GAP has released an information sheet containing strategies which may be helpful to encourage regular voluntary blood donation in countries which currently rely on family and replacement blood donors (FRDs) to supplement their blood supply.
The information sheet is available in English, French and Spanish.
Submissions for the GAP Global Mapping Report are closing this month.
This report serves as a valuable tool for gathering information about global blood programs. It is crucial that we gather up-to-date data. This data helps to inform resource development and develop support programs reflective of the current blood program scope of activity.
We strongly encourage your National Society to participate in this survey and to review the results provided in the pre-populated spreadsheet sent out earlier this year.
Closing date for submissions is 31 October. Contact GAP if you require more information for your National Society.
Share your story!
With the focus of this newsletter being on sustaining a safe blood supply through retaining family and replacement donors, and encouraging them to become regular voluntary donors, GAP invites you to share the ways your National Society addresses this issue.
If you have a great strategy for retaining family and replacement donors as regular donors and would like to share a short description with our network, please contact GAP.
“Everything is a learning experience.” — Angus T. Jones
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