The Blood Transfusion Committee of Alimosho General Hospital in Lagos has commenced a three-day collaborative blood donation initiative within the Lagos State University (LASU) community.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Olumide Adegbokun, who said this in a statement on Thursday, added that the initiative was being carried out to foster the voluntary life-saving habits.
Adegbokun said that the exercise, which commenced on Tuesday and to end on Thursday, was being carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Services.
“This event has been made possible through the strategic harnessing of authorised synergy to foster the availability of blood through a donation from selfless and committed participants.
“We want to enlighten the public to turn out en masse to save lives, and an added advantage is that the donors will be able to access their health information from various tests conducted.
“This not only helps to curb cropped-up health challenges, but the donor is also allowed priority service when transfusion is required at all public health facilities upon presentation of his/her donor card.
“Donating blood also replenishes cells in the body, thus rejuvenating the body,’’ Adegbokun said in the statement signed by Mrs Abimbola Salehu -Badejo, the Head, Public Affairs Department of the hospital.
According to him, LASU was chosen for the exercise because of its proximity to ALGH (Alimosho General Hospital) and due to a need to maintain the symbiotic relationship between the two government agencies.
The medical practitioner said that the initiative was targeting youths to be the flag bearers.
“Note that a concession is considered for any individual of LASU upon presenting at ALGH for healthcare support following this sustained understanding,’’ Adegbokun added.
In her remarks, a Consultant Hematologist with the hospital, Dr Olubukola Ali, described the initiative as important and a way of the hospital reached out to its neighbourhood as well as to give back to the society.
“There is no substitute for blood. In every incidence, there are reasons for giving blood. Sometimes, it could be a postpartum haemorrhage which requires blood donation in multiple quantities.
“It is imperative to have ample availability of blood supplies to save such life,’’ Ali said.
She said that the department was working through the medical director as well as LSBTS towards ensuring ample supply of harvested blood components as red blood cells and platelets concentrate.
The blood expert added: “inadvertently, each donor upon this exercise has the tendency to save more than one life, as these components are specified as required by recipients.
“There will be good supplies of blood within the hospital for those that actually need them.’’