We are the Answer
African-American blood donors are the answer to keeping our community healthy and strong.
We Are The Answer is an STBTC awareness campaign that highlights the need for African American blood donors and is geared to increase donations from the community.
Read testimonies from community leaders who support "We Are The Answer."
Living with sickle cell disease.
Disease sufferer forms local support association.
Victoria Advocate July 22
Watch here.
Why are We Needed?
Sickle cell is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases affecting more than 70,000 people in the U.S. 90% of those who have it are African-American.
Through donation, We Are the Answer to keeping our community healthy and strong.
Why African-American Donors?
Sickle cell anemia (also called sickle cell disease or SCD) patients need blood transfusions to help prevent stroke and reduce other complications resulting from the disease.
African-American blood donations can empower sickle cell patients to live active, healthy lives. Read More.
Why African-American Families?
One in 12 African-Americans carry the sickle cell trait. While sickle cell carriers don’t normally experience symptoms or complications, they can pass the disease on to their children. When a child inherits two sickle cell genes, (one from each parent) he or she is born with the disease. One in 500 African-American babies are born with sickle cell disease.
Planting the seed of awareness within our families can encourage future generations to donate blood and register with the National Marrow Donor Program fulfilling the needs of African-American patients.
Why Donate?
African-Americans make up 12% of the Texas population, but less than 3% donate blood in South Texas.
Most African-Americans have O or B type blood – types that frequently run low.
Some African-American patients have rare blood types that are found only in their ethnic group.
The only known cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Because tissue types are inherited, matches are more likely found within the same ethnic group.
Out of the 6 million bone marrow donors currently registered with the NMDP, only 8% are African-American.
Who is the Answer?
Anyone 16 years old weighing at least 120 pounds and with a parent conset form or anyone 17 years of age or older, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good general health can donate blood and be the answer to South Texas patients’ blood transfusion needs. Read More.