By Fasilat Lawal

Voluntary non-remunerated blood donors form the backbone of the health care sector in Nigeria.

Acting Zonal Director, National Blood  Service Commission South West Center, NBSC, Dr Oladapo Awonranti declared this at a news briefing to commemorate this year’s World Blood Donor Day held at the Total Garden Ibadan.

Dr Aworanti explained that Voluntary donors had to be celebrated and appreciated as they continued to give ailing citizens another chance to live, ñoting that despite recent challenges, donors have been supportive, describing them as champions.

He said NBSC had improved considerably at both the national level and regional level, citing an example of a recently purchased cold centrifuge that had started producing blood components Red cells, FFP, and platelets to boost service delivery in the country.

He added that the foundation for safe blood and blood products rested on effective and efficient donor selection and enjoined functional blood banks to abide by the regulatory role of the transfusion services in the country.

In their separate submission, Public Health Officer of World Health Organization, WHO, Mr Katibi Mustapha and National President Ahmadiya Muslim Youth Organization Oyo State, Mr Akinyemi  Abdul Raqb who said their  Organizations were ready to partner NBSC for safe blood, blood products and render service to humanity in the country, urged people to continue to donate blood to be healthy.

Earlier, blood donors had expressed readiness to donate more blood to save lives,  followed by road Walk which took off from the commission’s office at the total garden and terminated at Gate.

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