A Walsall leader is urging members of the Asian community to come forward to support a special blood testing session arranged at the Manor Hospital.

Councillor Aftab Nawaz is the first Asian Leader of Walsall Council’s Labour group and he is backing the Plasma of Hope charity’s blood testing event on 5 June.

This event is in partnership with Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s BAME Council and NHS Blood and Transplant and is aimed at helping people living with genetic blood disorders such as Sickle Cell and Thalassemia, as well as survivors of associated complications including stroke and other health issues resulting in disability.

The Know Your Blood Type session will run between 7.30am and 2.30pm in the Outpatients Department on Route 006 of the hospital. Here, people can take a quick finger prick test to identify their blood type and find out more about donation which is vital for so many people living with blood disorder conditions.

Councillor Nawaz said: “We need to encourage donors from black and Asian communities in particular, so I want to lead by example on Monday and support this important session.

“I urge others from our communities to come along too. The finger prick tests will help to identify vulnerable and rare blood types. If eligible, people can then be registered to donate blood at the nearest mobile blood sessions that will be set up across the Black Country by NHS Blood and Transplant.

“Living with a blood disorder has a massive impact on people’s quality of life and affects their families too. Anything we can do to help will be appreciated across our communities.”