Dr Adebukola Ali, a Consultant Haematologist, at the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Lagos, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to engage in quarterly blood donation as a life-saving gesture.
Ali made the call at an ongoing programme organised by the hospital to commemorate the 2020 World Blood Donor Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Blood Donor Day is marked every June 14 globally, to create awareness on the need for regular blood donation to save lives.
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She said:” Blood donation is a move that helps in saving the life of patients in dire need of blood to survive.
“It is a very safe procedure of 30 or 35 minutes which includes donor selection process, counselling, questionnaire filling, consent adherence and health check.
”People need to be saved, especially anaemic patients and pregnant women and it is imperative to give back as a way of preserving humanity.”
The haematologist said that donors also benefitted health-wise for donating their blood.
Ali added that blood from donors went through intensive scrutiny process called Testing for Transmission Transmittable Infections, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The adult body has a total of eight to 12 pints of blood running through the body, with only one pint taken for donation.
“During this process, the fluid part of such donor‘s blood called ‘plasma’ is being replaced and it also replenishes the blood and other numerous benefits are attached to it,” she said.
Meanwhile, Miss Kemi Aro-Lambo who made her 25th blood donation at the Alimosho General Hospital told NAN that it was her own way of giving back to humanity.
“I donate blood to save lives; as a matter of fact, I feel lighter and full of life having donated my blood.
“Years back at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital where I joined a group on a platform and we all pledged to donate blood 25 times in a lifetime.
“I donated for the 25th time today, I am happy to accomplish and fulfil the mission which started some years back to the glory of the most high.
“Blood donation is a three in one gift which involves saving lives, renewing your cells for fresh replenishment and also maintaining a youthful look. So I enjoin everyone to embrace this habit,” she said.