Latest news with #BlackCaribbean
ITV News
a day ago
- Health
- ITV News
NHS calls for an extra 200,000 blood donors as stocks run low
The NHS is calling for hundreds of thousands of individuals to donate blood, as supplies are running precariously low. More than one million regular blood donors are needed for the health service to maintain its blood supply, officials have said. However, less than 800,000 people donated blood last year, meaning just 2% of the population have sustained the whole of England's blood supply over the last 12 months. Last year, a severe shortage of O negative blood triggered by a cyber-attack on London hospitals prompted officials to issue an "amber alert". Due to a lack of donors, this amber alert is still in place. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has warned that more must be done to avoid a 'red alert', which means that blood supply is so low that there is a threat to public safety. It said there is a 'critical' need for more donors who have the so-called universal blood type, O negative blood, which is needed for treatment in emergencies. There is also a need for more black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types which can help treat people with sickle cell disease. NHSBT said that over the past year, England has seen an increased wave of blood donation registrations, including the largest ever increase in registrations from black heritage communities. However, only 24% of those who registered have gone on to give blood, leaving 250,000 who are yet to make a donation. Just 8% of the population has O negative blood, but it accounts for 15% of the blood used by hospitals and first responders. Around half of people from Black Caribbean and Black African heritage have a blood subtype called Ro, which is used primarily to treat people with sickle cell disease, the country's fastest-growing genetic blood disorder. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: 'There are many thousands of people who donate regularly and help us keep patients alive. Thank you. You are amazing. You keep the NHS going and save and transform thousands of lives a year. 'Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy – you'd truly be one in a million. 'Please book an appointment today, experience how good it feels to save lives, and come and do it again in a few months.' Two-thirds of all blood collected is used to treat people who rely on blood transfusions, including people with cancer and those with blood conditions. One family is backing the campaign for more donors due to their own experience receiving regular blood transfusions. Four-year-old Isaac Balmer, from Hull, was born with hereditary spherocytosis – a genetic blood condition which causes red blood cells to break down faster than normal, leading to severe anaemia and other complications. He receives blood transfusions every 12 weeks in order to stay healthy. His mother, Jasmin, said: 'It's been a rollercoaster; Isaac's haemoglobin levels fluctuate, and when they drop significantly, he becomes lethargic and jaundiced. 'But when he receives his transfusion, you see the colour return to his cheeks, and his energy levels soar before our eyes. It is incredible. 'During his transfusions, he refers to donor blood as 'Hulk blood' and imagines himself becoming stronger and healthier, but this wouldn't be possible without the real life, everyday superheroes who keep Isaac and others like him alive, thanks to their regular blood donations.' Health Minister Baroness Merron said: 'The NHS is in urgent need of more lifesaving blood donors from all backgrounds. "We are working alongside NHS Blood and Transplant to make donating blood easier than ever before, opening up new donor centres and making appointments available closer to home.' 'This National Blood Week, please register and book an appointment near you so the NHS can maintain its vital blood supply.'
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
Doctor criticises ‘lightweight' assessment of impact of assisted dying
Ministers have not adequately considered how assisted dying would affect disadvantaged communities, a palliative care doctor and clinical academic has said. Bradford-based Jamilla Hussain said the equality impact assessment for the assisted dying bill was 'lightweight', and her own research had highlighted concerns that had not been reflected in the document. Published earlier this month, the assessment said in its conclusion: 'Government is neutral on this bill, however, has offered technical support on workability. 'If it is the will of parliament that this bill becomes law, government will ensure that it is implemented in such a way that attempts to mitigate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and manage any equality issues that may arise.' Hussain said: 'I'm not against [assisted dying] in principle at all. I'm one of the few palliative care consultants who leans pro.' But she said the impact of the legislation on minority communities had not been adequately considered. 'This bill has done so little scrutiny of what the impact is going to be on these vulnerable groups' she said. 'They just keep saying time and time again, we've got to trust doctors. But we know from patient safety data across the life course, that is not a good enough safeguard.' Hussain, who also gave evidence on the issue in parliament, has run three consultations with communities in the most disadvantaged areas of Bradford, the first of which worked with 98 people from minority ethnic communities, asking their thoughts around the bill. 'It wasn't that they were saying, 'Oh, well, for religious reasons, we'd be against it and therefore we'd be safe', which is what proponents of the bill suggest,' Hussain said. 'The first thing they said is, 'We're scared. We're scared this is going to affect us disproportionately. Just like in Covid.' 'There's nothing in the impact assessment saying we need to mitigate against this and how. It won't just be racialised groups,' she added. 'It'll be disabled people who are also really scared, and the elderly. We need to assess unintended consequences carefully.' Members of one consultation group – containing women from Black African, Black Caribbean, Pakistani and Roma backgrounds, who had all experienced domestic abuse, and all knew other women who had – were asked for their experiences in how domestic abuse may manifest in the last six months of life. One woman said: 'My mother-in-law couldn't physically get up … her legs, they were paralysed … he left her on the sofa in her own waste. 'She fell to the floor. He dragged her across the floor and kept shouting at her to get up. They had a hoist … but he said she has to get up and move herself. She was helpless … from then on I made sure I was always there.' Another woman said of a different case: 'She asked for water and he wouldn't give it. He drank a full glass in front of her. Her daughter used to leave it [water] out before she went to school. 'One day, she forgot, and it was really sunny, she became very unwell after that.' Hussain's research found that the women were concerned abusive men may put pressure on their partners over assisted dying, and they feared some men may do so in order to 'move on to a new wife'. Read More Millions of cat owners could be forced to microchip pets 'The biggest risk these women foresee is that assisted dying would be seen as the only way out for the women experiencing domestic abuse at the end of life,' Hussain said. In another consultation, parents of young people who are autistic, or who have a learning disability, said they were concerned about ableism in how the law would be implemented, and also about the use of independent advocates. 'I am deeply concerned about the provision that there is no requirement to inform family or next of kin until after the assisted death has occurred,' Hussain said. 'This could result in devastating outcomes for families who are excluded from a process that their loved one may not have fully understood or been able to navigate independently.' Hussain has said that assisted dying legislation must 'not shift the risk of bad deaths to much larger and more vulnerable groups of people'. 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission state that when there are evidence gaps for particular groups, consultation and engagement with those groups is essential to understand their experience and needs,' she said. 'And that lack of evidence should never be used as a justification for no action. 'And they haven't done any of that. It's really lightweight.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chicago's Haitian community celebrates Pope Leo XIV's heritage
CHICAGO — Aline Lauture with the Haitian Congress Center was thrilled to learn Pope Leo XIV not only has ties to Chicago but to her ethnic background. 'This news, we just embrace the news,' Lauture said. 'The pope has Haitian roots, we're like, 'Yay!'' The City of Chicago was founded by a Haitian; Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. 'Now, the fact we share a cultural link, if not a kinship, with the pope is very important,' Jari Honora said. Pope Leo XIV: WGN's full coverage Honora, a New Orleans based genealogist, did some digging and found it was Pope Leo's maternal grandparents who are described as black of 'mulatto' in several census documents. 'Their names were Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquie,' Honora said. Honora found on their 1887 marriage license, Martinez listed his birthplace as Haiti. It was common for people of mixed French and Black Caribbean roots to settle in New Orleans, then many moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, including the pope's grandparents in 1911. Census documents in Chicago show his grandparents identified as white. Genealogists theorize they may have shifted their racial identity to assimilate. 'The fact they migrated from New Orleans to Chicago, and I migrated from Haiti to Chicago, it's a beautiful story,' Lauture said. More: Pope Leo XIV delivers first Sunday noon blessing, patrons at Chicago church embrace message of Chicago-born pontiff It was in the Windy City where the couple had Pope Leo's mother, Mildred Martinez. The family kept close to the Catholic Church. 'There was always an openness to accepting a call to religious vocation as a child. In and out of his home were a lot of their neighborhood priests because they liked his mom's cooking,' Honora said. 'Once I discovered they had ties to New Orleans, I said, 'No wonder they liked her cooking.'' Related: 'This is nuts': How Louis Prevost learned his brother had become pope Adding a rich cultural layer to the papacy, showcasing the melting pot of ethnic backgrounds in the United States. 'Haitians take pride in their religion. A lot of Haitians are Catholics,' Lauture said. 'I think he'll be a great pope for the world, for people who want someone to speak to them about being kind, being a good person, a good Catholic.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Common fruit scientists say you should eat more of to lower blood pressure
A new study has suggested that increasing the ratio of dietary potassium to sodium intake could be effective in lowering blood pressure Could tucking into a banana each day fend off high blood pressure? A recent Canadian study indicates it might just do the trick. Scientists have discovered that a higher dietary potassium to sodium ratio can effectively reduce blood pressure levels. Dr Anita Layton of the University of Waterloo in Ontario said on the findings, saying: "Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt. Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium." Our ancestors consumed abundant fruits and vegetables, which implies our bodily systems might have adapted to operate optimally with diets rich in potassium and low in sodium. Lead researcher Melissa Stadt commented: "Today, western diets tend to be much higher in sodium and lower in potassium. That may explain why high blood pressure is found mainly in industrialized societies, not in isolated societies." Past studies have recognized the benefits of upping potassium for managing blood pressure, but the team has now crafted a mathematical model illustrating how the balance of potassium to sodium affects our physiology, reports Surrey Live. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks or strokes. However, it can be managed through lifestyle modifications and medication. It's more prevalent in older adults, and factors like age, unhealthy diet, and being overweight can increase your risk. Other contributing factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, long-term stress, and ethnicity - with the NHS highlighting that individuals of Black African, Black Caribbean, or South Asian descent are at a higher risk. If you suspect you may have hypertension, are at risk, or if you're over 40 and haven't had a check-up in over five years, it's advisable to get your blood pressure checked. Although it typically doesn't present any symptoms, in some cases, it can cause headaches, chest pain, and blurred vision. The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, Renal Physiology, also examined the impact of gender on hypertension risk. The findings revealed that men across all races are more likely to develop high blood pressure than pre-menopausal women of the same age. However, the research noted that post-menopause, the prevalence of hypertension in women begins to rise, eventually surpassing that in men. To maintain a healthy blood pressure level, it's advised to follow a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity - ideally, a minimum of 150 minutes per week. If you're carrying excess weight, shedding some pounds is also beneficial, as per NHS guidance.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eating this household fruit could lower high blood pressure, say experts
Could eating bananas be the secret to keeping high blood pressure at bay? It seems that may indeed be the case, according to recent Canadian research which hints at the benefits of boosting the dietary potassium to sodium ratio for reducing blood pressure. Speaking on the findings, Dr Anita Layton from the University of Waterloo in Ontario said: "Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt. Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium." Given our ancestral diets were rich in fruits and vegetables offering a high intake of potassium versus sodium, it's suggested by researchers that human regulatory systems could be optimized for such a nutritional balance. Lead author of the study, Melissa Stadt, said: "Today, western diets tend to be much higher in sodium and lower in potassium. That may explain why high blood pressure is found mainly in industrialized societies, not in isolated societies." Building upon existing evidence that boosting potassium can aid blood pressure control, the team has developed a mathematical model pinpointing how potassium-to-sodium ratios affect the human body, reports Surrey Live. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks or strokes. However, it can be managed through lifestyle modifications and medication. It's particularly prevalent among the elderly, with risk factors including age, poor diet, and obesity. Other contributing factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, long-term stress, and ethnicity - with those of Black African, Black Caribbean, or South Asian descent being more susceptible, according to NHS guidelines. If you suspect you may have hypertension, are at risk, or are over 40 and haven't had a check-up in over five years, it's recommended to get your blood pressure checked. While it typically doesn't present any symptoms, some people may experience headaches, chest pain, and blurred vision. The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, Renal Physiology, also examined the impact of gender on hypertension risk. The findings revealed that men across all races are more likely to develop high blood pressure than pre-menopausal women of the same age. However, the research noted that post-menopause, the prevalence of hypertension in women begins to increase, eventually surpassing that of men. To maintain a healthy blood pressure, the NHS recommends sticking to a balanced diet and getting in at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. If you're carrying extra weight, shedding some pounds could also be beneficial.
