Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Centre urges residents to embrace voluntary blood donation

By Joan Odafe

 

The Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Centre (AOMCC) in Lagos State, on Wednesday called on residents of the state to voluntarily donate blood to help saves lives.

 

Dr Taiwo Adeiyi, Medical Director, AOMCC, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a blood donation drive in Lagos.

 

The event was organised by the hospital to mark the 2023 World Blood Donor Day.

The theme of the event is, “Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often”.

Speaking on the importance of voluntary blood donation, Adeiyi noted that in the past, it was mandatory in the state’s general hospitals for partners of pregnant women to donate blood before they could be registered.

He, however, said the barrier was removed because many pregnant women started going to register in other places, sometimes with unqualified personnel.

According to him, one reason people do not donate blood voluntarily is because they believe they will not need it.

He said it was very unpredictable to know when or who would need blood, particularly pregnant women.

“Sometimes even those who are not high-risk; it could be unpredictable during a woman’s delivery, even a child may need blood at any time.

“Sometimes an individual can need about seven pints of blood at a particular point in time and it is those blood donated that will be used for them,” he said.

He urged residents to adopt the lifestyle of voluntarily donating blood because they never knew when or who would need it.

Mrs Eunice Akinleye, Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist, AOMCC, commended the turnout of donors.

Akinyele noted that in spite of the heavy downpour residents came out, adding that it was an indicator that people were becoming aware of the benefits of blood donation.

She explained that the hospital had done an awareness campaign prior to the event to educate people on the benefits of  blood donation.

She added that people were free to walk in at anytime and voluntarily donate blood.

“They don’t need to be forced or wait for a yearly event before they can come,” she said.

Similarly, Mr Yusuf Abdulawwal, Imam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Festac Circuit, said that donors needed to know that they benefit from giving blood.

Abdulawwal, who came along with 12 other donors from his circuit, disclosed that the group always takes  advantage of blood drives to save lives and for humanity.

He said it was pertinent that potential blood donors knew that it was an opportunity to know their health status through the tests that would be carried out before donation.

He advised the state government to intensify its awareness by reaching out to religious and traditional leaders so they could inform their members of the benefits, and urge them to donate.

Tolulope Hazmat, who claimed to have donated blood 26 times, said he donates every three months, adding that he feels freer and lighter after each donation.

 

“I also donate to save lives. Blood is not something you can just buy from the market.

 

“We humans have to donate for people who are sick and need blood to be able to get well,” he said.

 

(NAN)