A Consultant Haematologist, Professor Adedoye Dosunmu, has urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation to save lives and enhance access to readily available safe blood.
He made the call at a lecture organised by the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos University Teaching Hospital to commemorate ‘2024 World Blood Donor Day’ on Friday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually on June 14, to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives.
The programme was themed, ‘Celebrating 20 Years of Giving: Thank You Blood Donors’.
Dosunmu, who was a guest speaker at the event, shed light on the significance of the day, calling for more advocacy in Nigeria as most people do not understand the need for regular blood donation.
According to him, there is an urgent need to educate Nigerians on the importance of blood donation, especially as voluntary givers, stressing that more lives are saved if blood can easily be accessed by health institutions and patients when needed.
Highlighting the benefits of voluntary blood donation, Dosunmu said it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, depression, as well as elongates life.
The haematologist explained that regular blood donors have the opportunity to have regular medical checkups, which predisposed them to a healthier lifestyle.
He pointed out that an individual can donate blood within three-month intervals, which translates to donating blood up to three or four times per year.
“The World Health Organisation explains that blood is an important resource, both for planned treatment and urgent interventions.
“Blood can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life and supports complex medical and surgical procedures.
“It is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.
“Hence, the need for more people to voluntarily donate blood to not only save lives but also help to enhance access to safe and readily available blood,” he said.
Also speaking, a Consultant Haematologist from the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, LUTH, Prof Titi Adeyemo, said regular blood donors stood the chance of living five years longer than people who are not regular donors.
She explained that blood donation kept the bone marrow active, which in turn kept the individual younger.
She decried the fact that Nigeria still heavily rely on family replacement donors, where relatives are forced to donate blood.
Adeyemo, therefore, urged people not to wait for an emergency before donating blood.
“So, what we have decided to do this year is to also invite secondary school students so that we can start identifying and building them young to be regular future blood donors.
“As soon as they are 18 years of age, we let them register with any nearby blood transfusion service and start maintaining healthy lifestyles, be committed to regular blood donation and saving lives.
“It is very safe for people between 18 and 65 years of age to donate blood three or four times a year.
“Blood donation keeps the bone marrow active and once the bone marrow is active, it keeps the individual younger.
“And some evidence has shown that regular blood donors live five years extra than people who were not regular blood donors; because their bone marrow is continually renewed,” she explained.
The Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, said the day is meant to sensitise people on the importance of having safe blood and blood products in the blood bank to assist health institutions save lives.
Represented by the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, LUTH, Dr Babawale Bello, Adeyemo said the hospital partnered with a lot of organisations, communities and the society at large to encourage voluntary blood donation.
According to him, for every blood donated, a life would have been saved and blood donation creates room for an individual to be tested for physical fitness.
A regular Blood Donor, Mr Olumide Omoge, said it gives him joy to save lives through blood donation.
According to him, donating blood keeps me fit and my body becomes rejuvenated.
NAN reports that secondary school students from different schools across Lagos State were present at the lecture.
(NAN)