Stanley Étienne, a Montreal bus driver, has donated blood 37 times, motivated by a friend’s health crisis related to sickle cell anemia, which disproportionately affects the Black community. He emphasizes the need for more Black donors, as patients often require compatible blood from donors of similar ethnic backgrounds. Historical mistrust in medical institutions, particularly among Haitians, has contributed to low donation rates. Héma-Québec aims to increase Black donors, as only 10,000 out of the needed 26,000 donate annually, despite the critical need for blood among sickle cell patients.
