It is humanitarian to donate rather than sell blood

It is humanitarian to donate rather than sell blood – NBSC

Zonal Director, National Blood Service Commission, Southwest Zone, NSBC, Dr Oladapo Àwòránti has advised Nigerians who are fond of selling blood to patients rather than donating it to desist from the act, saying such negated the rule of humanitarian service.

Dr Àwòránti gave the advice during a road walk to commemorate this year’s World Blood Donor Day in Ibadan.

The NBSC Southwest Zonal Director explained that blood transfusion is free as such it should be given free to save human life.

Dr Àwòránti, who led the road walk, explained that the exercise was aimed at creating more awareness on the need to always donate blood to save lives as well as appreciate blood donors in the state.

In their separate submissions, the President, the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Dr Adekemi Otolorin and representative of the Department of Haematology, University College Hospital, Dr Wuraola Shokunmi, decried the low level of compliance of Nigerians towards blood donation.

They urged people to desist from behaviours, cultural and religious beliefs that negated blood donation.

The duo of Dr Otolorin and Dr Shokunmi said blood shortage was a problem that could occur to humans, adding that the challenge of blood insufficiency could be better addressed through collaboration and demonstration of selflessness by donors.

Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, UCH, Professor Jessie Otegbayo urged the participants to continue to serve humanity without bias.

Aside from blood donors that expressed readiness to donate more blood to save lives, the road walk which took off from the commission’s office at Total Garden terminated at Mokola Roundabout.