New International Blood Bank Established for Children With HIV/AIDS, Other Diseases in Developing Nations
Fourteen U.S. blood banks have agreed to join together to create the Children's World Blood Bank, which will soon begin sending extra U.S. blood supplies to children in developing nations who suffer from HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, the AP/Columbia State reports. The U.S. blood banks will collect extra donated blood and ship it overseas within 24 hours of donation. The Children's World Blood Bank aims to send donations to approximately 10,000 children per year, beginning with children in Russia, Africa and Central and South America (Columbia State, 3/19). The bank will also establish partnerships with local governments and hospitals to improve local blood supplies ( Australian Associated Press, 3/19). Three Nobel Peace Prize winners -- former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev, former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu -- were present at the inauguration of the blood bank in Palm Beach, Fla., where the South Florida Blood Banks originally conceived the idea for the program (Columbia State, 3/19).
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