Yvette Gate, a 13- year-old Gambian based in the United Kingdom is seeking assistance from all and sundry for blood donation to enable her easily get a blood match with her system.

Baby Yvette who was first diagnosed in 2004 in the UK and had two causes of treatment is suffering from A-Plastic Anemea, a lukimea and born marrow failure or transplant.

In an interview with the Daily Observer on Thursday Marry Gate, Baby Yvette’s mother who is currently in The Gambia to collect blood samples for the UK said more black and majority ethnic potential bone marrow donors are urgently required as current low numbers on the bone marrow register makes finding a donor difficult.

She added that it is very difficult as a black person in the UK to find a match blood for a black person, which is one in hundred thousand people, compared to one in every five persons for a white.

According to her, they the parents of Yvette had launched a special campaign in the UK by appearing on the National Television, national news papers, radio stations, magazines and other local radio stations.
“We also run a clinic there by encouraging people to come over and register and donate blood samples for testing. During our testing, we found three matches for other patients. But until date, we cannot find a blood that match with Yvette’s. She is still unlucky but we are convinced that we will make it one day. Until today, she still depends on having blood transfusion,” she said.

Madam Gate announced that the next clinic for Yvette Gate is slated for January and interested people are now registering to participate. To implement the campaign in The Gambia, she said it will be very difficult as there are no facilities in the country for the operations. She then encouraged Gambians to register and donate blood to help her daughter and save her life, adding that the three steps to donate blood is to fill the registration form, talk to a trained councillor and finally give a small blood sample (4ml).

She then commended the Bristol Carribean people in the United Kingdom for their support and the Gambia Experience for facilitating her trip to The Gambia at no cost.

Any information on the issues, contact David Gate, Father of Yvette Gate on e-mail:
admin@yvettegate.co,uk or on
www.yvettegate.co.uk.