A non governmental organisations known as the Global Shapers Community, Kano, has renewed its call for Nigerians to embrace voluntary blood donation, saying regular donations can help save lives during medical emergencies.
The organisation made the call during its annual blood drive held at the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre, where 108 volunteers donated blood.
Curator of the Global Shapers Community, Kano, Sumayya Umar Tofa, said the initiative has been sustained for 13 years as part of efforts to address blood shortages and ensure timely access to blood for patients in need.
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She said the donations would support patients requiring transfusion, including women facing complications during pregnancy and childbirth, accident victims, people living with anaemia and children with blood-related disorders.
Blood Access Initiative
Umar Tofa also disclosed that the organisation runs a blood-access initiative that connects patients with potential donors, particularly when family members or friends are unable to provide the required blood.
She said the previous exercise produced 86 pints of blood, and that increased support from individuals, organisations and development partners could enable the initiative to collect up to 200 units in a single day and eventually expand beyond Kano.
The Curator explained that every donated blood sample would be screened for infectious diseases before being stored and made available for medical use.
She said the participation of Médecins Sans Frontières in this year’s exercise would further complement free medical services in Kano by helping provide blood for patients requiring transfusion.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre, Dr Nafisa Abdu, the Assistant Head of Nursing, Umar Halliru, said prospective donors undergo pre-donation screening, blood collection and post-donation observation.
Halliru said the screening is conducted to establish whether a donor is medically fit, while donors are advised to rest for between 15 and 30 minutes after the procedure.
He also urged donors to maintain a balanced diet and adequate water intake to support the body after blood donation.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist at the centre, Shamsuddeen Abubakar, said eligible donors may provide either 250 millilitres of blood using a paediatric blood bag or 450 millilitres using an adult blood bag, depending on their eligibility.
He said factors such as age, weight, vital signs, previous donation history and PCV are considered before blood is collected.
Abubakar added that all donated blood is screened for infections, including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis, before it is cleared for use.
One of the donors, 29-year-old Mustapha Abdulwaseeq, described blood donation as an act of charity that could help save the life of someone known or unknown to the donor.
He encouraged more Nigerians to participate in voluntary blood donation, saying the blood given by one person could become a critical lifeline for another.
Victoria Ibanga
