The Nation Newspaper

Tag: blood donation

  • 400 workers donate blood

    400 workers donate blood

    NO fewer than 400 staff of Chellarams Group of Companies have donated blood as part of the 90th celebration of the conglomerate’s contribution to national well-being and development.

    The event was held at the firm’s premises, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Isolo, Lagos.

    Among those who donated blood were group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Aditya Chellaram and top management staff. Chellerams said he was concerned by the perennial unvavailability of blood in hospitals and clinics and inability of some people to afford it. He urged Nigerians to come out and make the manufacturing giant’s blood donation a success.

    Governor District 9110, Rotary Club Olugbenga Olowu commended Chellerams’ gesture, describing it as a noble effort.

    He noted that the club had been part of blood transfusion for some time and was glad to work with the firm.

    “We partner with organisations of like minds all over the country and Chellarams is one of such because they have extended their tentacles to every nook and cranny of the country. They came to us to talk about blood transfusion as part of their 90th anniversary and we keyed into it,” he said.

    He said: “We are a human organisation and our goal is to serve humanity. We have blood banks and save the lives of those involved in accidents and other mishaps and that is why we are collaborating with Chellarams. We believe in good health for all and we want to save lives.”

    Members of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion committee, including Mrs Lawal Sherifat, coordinated the event.

  • Lagos Council, youths partner on blood donation

    The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kosofe Local Government chapter, Lagos State, has partnered with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) on voluntary blood donation.

    During the council’s International Youth Day celebration which had as theme : “Youth presentations and blood donation exercise,” the Chairman of the council, Prince Yisa-Adeniji Akanbi, said he donated last 15 years ago.

    “I donated my blood because I have the passion to assist and save lives. I felt light and happy after the donation,” he stated.

    The Chief Orientation and Mobilisation Officer of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos, Mrs Ogunaike Oyeyemisi, another donor, also said she initially felt weak after the exercise but felt better after.

    She described the process as easy. “It’s not a big deal and I will donate again,” Mrs Ogunaike said.

    Supervisor of Education, Kosofe Local Government Aremu Adewale Abdul, who represented the Chairman of the Local Government, Hon Afolabi Sofarta, urged everyone to donate blood, saying that nobody knows who the next victim could be.

    A member of the LSBTC, Mr Solomon Eka, said people’s response to voluntary blood donation was encouraging, stressing that the availability of blood in hospitals is still very low in proportion to the need for blood.

    He said: “We need our opinion leaders to donate and be role models to their followers. I urged everyone to donate blood voluntarily. Blood expires at one time or the other in the body of humans and it is passed out as waste products.”

  • ‘Blood donation, cervical cancer need more awareness’

    NIGERIANS have been enjoined to engage in voluntary blood donation and screen for cancer, especially women in particular regularly.

    That was the thrust of the 21st convocation of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu campus. It was themed: Health is wealth.

    The students said many young adults do not donate blood and screen for cancer because the opportunity to do so was not there.

    A member of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), Mr Solomon Eka, said there is no cause for fear in voluntary blood donation because the donors would be given a free medical check up and their blood is the safest of all other types of blood donation.

    “Shortage of blood can lead to death, so also excess of blood can lead to death. It is safer to donate the blood to those who are in need. Blood donation strengthens the bone marrow and cleanse the body. Every healthy person within the age of 18 to 65 years can donate blood in space of three months,” he said.

    On cervical cancer, Principal Medical Officer, Lagos State Polytechnic Medical Centre, Mrs Oladunni Aluko, said cervical cancer is on the rise, killing many people, both the rich and poor, young and old.

    “Virginal infection, unusual or unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge, painful sexual intercourse, painful or difficult urination and bleeding between periods are some of the symptoms of cervical cancer. Loss of appetite, cervix pain and back pain are other higher symptoms of cervical cancer,” she said.

    She added that early exposure to sexual life, multiple sexual partners and smoking are some of the risk factors of cervical cancer.

    Mrs Aluko advised ladies to be sensitive to every abnormality in their cervix saying that this could be a sign of cervical cancer. “Go to a doctor whenever such is noticed,” she stated.

    An ND 2 Computer science student, Ibukun Adeleke, said the essence of blood donation is to save lives: ‘Giving blood is an easy action that can really help someone in need. I encourage everyone, whether you have given in the past or not to give blood. As students, we could help to tackle the huge shortage of blood with the potential to save lives.’

    Another donor Ateroko Misturat, said voluntary blood donation is a safe exercise and noted that blood donations are needed every year to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders.

    Mr Tunde Philips a worker in the institution said there is need for people to know more about blood donation and cervical cancer. “Government should provide more centres for both to be done easily,” he stated.

  • Govt worried over paid blood donation

    The activities of commercial blood donors are not new in Nigeria. Across the country, touts and indigents impersonate family members to donate blood for which they are paid.

    But, the government is trying to discourage the practice. It is calling for more unpaid blood donors, so that those who collect money to give blood can be thrown out of business.

    The known practice of blood donation is the family replacement donor, which didn’t yield much result. The blood is used immediately by the family member, for whom it was donated, thereby leaving nothing in the bank.

    Concerned Nigerians have asked that blood donation should be seen as a civic duty or social service to save those who need blood.

    Lagos State is one of the states on a blood donation drive to discourage commercialisation of blood.

    It took the exercise to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, where lawyers, students and others donated blood at an event jointly organised by it and Rotary Club of Lagos.

    The Club President, Hairat Ade-Balogun, who donated blood, said blood donation is crucial to the survival of those in need of blood, especially victims of road traffic accident and those in emergency.

    The four-day exercise is one of many organised in the state to raise awareness on the need to donate blood.

    It was themed Voluntary unpaid and the slogan You can save a life with a paint of blood donated; it’s something amazing to do.

    Consultant Public Health Physician, Mr Hakim Akinlade said if 500,000 Nigerians voluntarily donate blood its cost by commercial donors will go down and they would be frustrated out of business.

    On superstition, he said: “People have been seeing blood transfusion and the recovery rate of the sick after the exercise. This should remove any doubts they might have regarding giving their blood freely to save the sick.”

    He said some blood types such as B+ are very hard to get, saying what happens when somebody is in need of it but could not get it because it was unavailable.

    He said nobody is going to use their blood for any evil, urging the people to donate to the right channel

    “People need to have the conviction to save lives rather than allow superstition to affect their compassion for the sick, which may need the blood to stay alive,” Akinlade said.

     

  • Committee calls for blood donation

    Committee calls for blood donation

    Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) has called for more blood donation to save lives.

    Its Executive Secretary, Dr Uwem Olusola-Oyekan said there were people who need blood to stay alive.

    Olusola-Oyekan, who spoke during a blood donation organised by Genotype Foundation at Malaria Research Centre (MRC), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    She identified sickle cell disordered patients, road accident victims, women in labour and other medical emergencies as those who need blood to stay alive.

    Blood may be needed to reduce paternal, maternal and infant mortality ratio (IMR).

    According to her, only human blood can help these victims stay alive.

    Calling on Nigerians to donate blood voluntarily, she said, this is the only way to make blood available to patients who are in dire need of blood.

    Voluntary blood donation means that the individual is donating his blood without being forced to do so.

    Voluntary blood donors are special and responsible people with good blood quality.

    “When the blood is donated, it is tested for genotype, blood group and HIV/AIDS status which makes blood donors know their health status each time they donate blood.

    “They are not likely to have infections because they are well-schooled on healthy lifestyle, and as such stand a chance of staying healthy.

    “Blood donation is a very safe exercise. There is nothing to be afraid of in donating blood. The blood pressure of the donor will be checked, sugar level, blood sugar, cholesterol level and hypertension before the exercise can begin,” Olusola-Oyekan said.

    This, she said, can also help donors to know their fitness level.

    “The essence of encouraging voluntary blood donation is to ensure that there is enough blood in the blood bank; this will help to make blood ready for use by any patient even before the need arises.

    “Voluntary blood donors are rendering good service to the society. They are helping to save others’.

    Oyekan said blood can be donated between three to four months or at least, once a year. People from 18 to 65 years can donate blood. This has no effect, whatsoever on them. In fact, it will help their blood production.

    “If you do not donate blood, the body has a way of destroying it, because the blood is meant to last in our body for 90 to 120 days after which it is destroyed by itself,” she added.

    “Blood donation makes you healthy because you reproduce new red blood cells which transport oxygen through the circulatory system delivering to the necessary organs and tissues in the body,” she said.