Why you should donate blood

[Mirror]

Friday, June 14 is World Blood Donor Day On Friday June 14, Nigeria will join the rest of the world to mark the World Blood Donor Day, a day set aside by the world Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

With the theme "Give the gift of life: donate blood", this year's campaign, the 10th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, will focus on the value of donated blood to the patient, not only in saving life, but also in helping people live longer and more productive lives.

It is estimated that Nigeria requires about 1.5 million units of blood per annum in hospitals and health facilities nationwide. Unfortunately, a National Baseline Data Survey on blood transfusion has revealed that less than half of this is obtained every year and this comes mainly from private sources. More worrisome is the revelation that paid donors still account for more than 90% of the blood being donated in the country.

Just who needs blood and why should you go out on Friday to any hospital with transfusion facilities to donate blood?

2013 World Blood Donor Day Logo

According to the National Coordinator, National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Dr. Oluwatoyin Smith, human blood has become a major life saving ingredient required by health facilities which must be available during emergencies or routine use.

On any given day, tens of thousands of units of blood are needed in hospitals all over the country for women during delivery, premature infants, accident victims, people undergoing surgery, individuals with cancer, leukaemia or blood disorders among several others.

Also, experts say blood transfusion could save life in cases of severe infection or liver disease that stops the individual's body from properly making blood or some blood parts. An individual with a disease or condition that causes anaemia such as kidney disease, cancer or a cancer patient going through radiation may also benefit from blood transfusion.

Unfortunately, Nigeria's blood transfusion services remains largely unregulated as touts still play prominent roles in the provision of blood. Recently, a man was caught at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) with a sack of packaged blood which he intended to sell to patients requiring blood transfusion in the hospital. According to the hospital's Chief Medical Director, Prof. David Wale Oke, apart from the fact that the tout was not the right person to handle blood and blood products, the safety of the blood being sold was highly questionable not only because of its poor storage but for the fact that no one could ascertain whether or not it was screened.

Dr. Smith

Dr. Smith however says Nigeria's blood transfusion services is gradually taking shape with the establishment of the National Blood Trasnfusion Services.

"We have increased the number of safe blood units that have been available for use. We played our part during the last incidences of emergency that we had since last year. We have been able to make safe blood available for our health institutions that require them even during emergencies, "she told a national newspaper recently.

The NBTS Coordinator also wants Nigerians to cultivate the habit of donating blood to save lives. According to her, it is a safe exercise for any healthy adult.

'It only takes about 20 to 30 minutes. You walk in and we do a minute blood check. We check your haemoglobin level, we check your weight, ask you questions, your medical history and from there we are able to decide who can proceed to donate and who is not ready to donate or who cannot donate.

Of course, if your haemoglobin is 12 gramme or below, you cannot donate. But once your haemoglobin level is above 12 gramme, you can donate. We cannot take blood from anybody whose blood level is not adequate and also the weight. You have to be 50 kilogramme and above," she said.

National Mirror