Donated blood is used to save lives of severely anaemic patients, accident victims, surgical patients and cancerous patients to mention a few.
Sadly, however, statistics show that only ten percent of Nigerians donate blood freely while sixty per cent do it for money and thirty per cent of blood donors only give to relatives in need.
Due to the importance of blood donation, every 14th of June is set aside as world blood donation day.
The day is to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and also to raise awareness on the need for regular blood donation.
According to medical experts, people who voluntarily donate blood have the likelihood of living longer as fresh blood replaces the one given out.
They emphasised that a single donation can save three lives as a pint of blood provides three different components that can be used to treat different ailments.
World Health Organisation, W.H.O, statistics shows that about one hundred and twelve point five million blood donations are collected worldwide and more than half of these are collected in high-income countries while developing nations including Nigeria still struggle to have a good number of donors
To this end, there is need to sensitise Nigerians on giving blood more freely and disabuse their minds against some religious believes, poverty mentality and cultural background that affect giving out blood.
According to statistics, only sixty two countries are getting sufficient blood supplies from voluntary and unpaid blood donors whereas 40 countries are still dependent for blood donation on the patient’s family members or paid donors.
Though, this year, the World Health Organization aims to obtain sufficient blood supplies from voluntary and unpaid blood donors globally.
Unfortunately, this might remain a mirage as report shows that, there were reduction in the number of unpaid volunteer blood donors as a result of Covid-19 outbreak as people are afraid of being infected.
As a result, the media and other stakeholders should embark on aggressive campaign on the need for unpaid voluntary blood donation to guard against shortage of blood in the nation’s blood bank.
Encouraging regular blood donations by a sufficient number of healthy people will guarantee availability of safe blood whenever and wherever it is needed.
In developing countries, blood donation is relatively low as donors usually give blood only when family or friends need a transfusion which is not good enough.
This year’s theme is “safe blood, saves life.
It emphasises the need for proper screening of blood donated before transfusion.
Federal Ministry of Health should continue to provide technical support for blood transfusion services and strengthen service delivery and safety as well as increase access to safe blood and blood products for Nigerians.
In addition, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) has to synergize with private organisations at building community partnerships through the engagement of community based organizations to create greater awareness as well as to make blood donation an integral part of their social responsibility programmes.
No doubt, availability of blood in the nation’s blood bank is pivotal for prevention of untimely death of citizens hence everyone but be involved in voluntary, unpaid blood donation.
Titilayo Kupoliyi
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