Nigerians have been urged to cultivate the habit of donating blood and save more lives.
The Founder/CEO of Jela Development Initiatives, Angela Ochu-Baiye gave the advice at the National Launch of the J Blood Match App held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital on Thursday
Ochu-Baiye recalled her experience when she needed a blood transfusion but could not get a donor, saying she became an advocate for blood donation to prevent people from going through the same ordeal.
She said that “the J Blood Match would address the issues of connecting blood donors to people who need transfusion by identifying the number of donors in the area and eliminating wait time.”
Ochu-Baiye noted that even with blood banks and communities, people were not donating blood for diverse reasons.
“When you go to blood banks sometimes, you’re finding it difficult to even have access to blood there because people are not donating blood,” she stated.
Ochu-Baiye further said that the community on the platform would be “a community of blood donors who can come together and are willing to donate blood to others in need of it.”
She explained that currently, the initiative has over 952 blood donors around the country, stressing that with the launch of the app, real-time donors would be connected with people in need based on their location and blood type.
Blood Transfusion
Also, the HOD, Planning Research & Statistics, National Blood Service Commission, Dr Adaeze Oreh noted that most blood transfusion stories stem from pregnancy-related issues to other cases.
In a paper titled; ‘The gap in the demand and supply of blood in Nigeria’, she said; “In most cancer treatments, blood is required, either as a response to the medication, the chemotherapy or radiotherapy that they undergo or simply because the medication makes their blood level low.”
Dr Oreh noted that the need for blood donation cannot be over-emphasised, stressing that Nigerians needed to be proactive rather than reactive to blood donation issues.
She said; “When we anticipate that we need to survive, we also should plan for that survival as sometimes, it’s not just about us but also our communities… part of planning for survival is seeing how we can close the gap.”
She stated that whether a person donates or not, the blood would be flushed out and new cells would be generated by the body.
“Why don’t we use what we already have to build the stocks and increase the survival of our people,” she said.
Dr Oreh commended the JDI team and the donors for the initiative, saying “without donors, lives cannot be saved.”
In the same vein, the Chairman/CEO, Air Peace Limited, Mr Allen Onyema, emphasised the need for timely transfusion as it saves lives.
Onyema urged Nigerian leaders and politicians to be actively involved in the advocacy for blood transfusion.
Enlightenment on blood donation
He called for more public enlightenment on the safety of blood transfusion and blood donation to eliminate the myths surrounding blood donation, saying “Blood is blood and we are all from one God.”
Onyema also urged the media to do more in pushing blood donation advocacy.
“Government must be involved, civil society must be involved… encourage people to know their blood group so that if they are called upon at any point in time they could save lives,” he stated.
He also urged Nigerians to contribute their quota to make the country great rather than seeking ways to relocate.
“Age should not be a barrier, money in your account should not be a barrier,” he stressed.
Onyema pledged to use his website and aircraft to spread the word of JDI as an advocate of blood donation.
The DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, in his presentation titled ‘The importance of data and digital transformation in improving Nigerian systems’ stated that “data is the new air, oil and asset as data is already transforming our everyday life.”
Aziz, represented by Mrs Uche Chugbo commended JDI for taking the initiative and expressed his willingness to partner with JDI to save more lives.
He urged Nigerians to start with their families and spread the word to their immediate communities.
Also speaking, the YPP House of Reps Candidate AMAC/BWARI for 2023 elections, John Alphabet spoke on Modeling Health Technology in politics. He stated that there would be a ripple effect if there are moves in the National Assembly to encourage blood donations.
Alphabet stated that he would love to partner with the JDI and find ways to open a blood donation centre in Bwari.
Similarly, the Managing Director Africa Independent Television, Dr Oluwatosin Dokpesi, who spoke on the role of Media in Social Impact, stated that ”the J blood match is a good initiative adding that the government alone cannot do it all.”
She noted that the Jblood App would address a serious challenge in society which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Dokpesi stated that the Media can be relied on by JDI to get the desired impact of the project and let the populace know what they are doing and how they can be part of it.
Also a Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma in his presentation titled; ‘Blood Donation as a Pious and Charitable Act,’ explained that anyone who donates blood to a person in need has saved a life.
Fr Oluoma stated that” blood donation is an act of charity and a just act. The charity we do might be as a result of the justice we neglected.
“When you donate blood, we protect and save life.”
He however encouraged participants to do their part in being advocates for blood donation.
Linking blood donation to the 2023 general election, the Priest urged Nigerians to see politics like blood donation and vote for candidates who can donate blood and sustain Nigeria rather than those whom Nigeria would sustain.
Donation Experiences
An Assistant Director of the Digital Media Department of Voice of Nigeria, Mrs Rafat Salami who is also an active blood donor, stated that the effects of not getting blood as and when due can be devastating with dire consequences.
She noted that distance from the donor to those in need of a blood transfusion has been a huge challenge and commended the JDI for developing an app that matches people based on their location and blood type for speedy connections.
Mrs Salami encouraged Nigerians to become blood donors adding that “you never can tell if the blood you donate may end up saving your own life.”
Also speaking another donor Dorcas Anaja, stated that the experience was a good one as she didn’t expect it to be seamless.
According to her blood donation is like being stranded. She urged Nigerians not to wait until they are stranded to donate blood.
The highlight of the event was the participants finding their blood match in the crowd and also a live demonstration of how the app works.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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