Dame Elizabeth Anionwu honoured with plaque

A plaque honouring Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, the NHS's first sickle cell specialist nurse counsellor, is to be unveiled at an NHS blood donor centre in south London.

Dame Elizabeth will officially open Brixton Blood Donor Centre on Wednesday.

Sickle cell disease, a debilitating condition that disproportionately affects black people, is the UK's fastest growing genetic disorder, NHS Blood and Transplant said.

"We still rely on the generosity of blood donors from the Black community to make a lifesaving difference," Dame Elizabeth said.

"When I became the country's first specialist sickle cell nurse counsellor in the 1970s, the disease was not very well known or understood.

"But what we did know was that the generosity of blood donors, especially from the black community, was key to alleviating the pain of patients.

"I urge all people across south London to make an appointment at this unique new centre to give blood and save lives."

The centre was developed in collaboration with community leaders, local businesses and residents to encourage more donors from black Caribbean and black African heritage.

Black communities are significantly more likely to have the specific 'Ro' blood type used to treat sickle cell.

More than half of black heritage blood donors have the Ro blood type, compared with 2.4% of donors from other ethnicities.

The centre hopes to welcome more than 1,000 donors a week.

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