Blood Donor Day: Stakeholders call for enforcement of national blood policy
NAN-HG-4
Blood
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, June 14, 2017 (NAN) Stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to ensure strict enforcement of the national blood policy to save lives.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the side line of this year’s World Blood Donor Day on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Consultant Haematologist, Dr Augustina Ikusemoro, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, advised the federal government to ensure policies on blood transfusion are strictly adhered to, with haemovigilance in the country.
Ikusemoro gave the advice in a telephone interview with NAN on the 2017 World Blood Donor Day with the theme: “What can you do? Give Blood, Give Now, Give Often’’.
She said: “ The private sector as part of their corporate social responsibilities should support blood services. The religious and community leaders should preach the message to their followers.
“ There should be increased awareness with multisectoral approach, beginning from the government to the private sector and the religious bodies.’’
Ikusemoro said blood is an important source for both planned treatment and urgent interventions, saying it can help patients suffering from life threatening conditions live longer with high quality of life.
“Blood has an essential life saving role in maternal and perinatal care,” the expert said.
She said a blood service gives access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system.
“Nigerians should be encouraged to donate regularly so that the blood stock is sufficient before an emergency arises.
“Nigerians are very generous people. If the right environment is created, donor education, motivation and adequate sensitisation by media houses and billboards highlighting the benefits of blood donation, sufficient number of people will be interested in voluntary blood donation,’’ Ikusemoro said.
Dr Biodun Ogungbo, the Public Relations Officer of the Guild of Medical Directors, FCT, said the theme was very apt and answers the questions people ask in an emergency as it encourages people to donate blood.
“We need to encourage the Nigerian public in this well meaning and public spirited act of donating blood as it directly saves lives.
“The hospitals with blood banks and organisations involved should make information available and make the process simple for potential donors.
“We are our brothers’ keepers. Let us not wait till there is a critical need before donating blood. Do it now, do it often,’’ he said.
Dr Oluwatoyin Smith, the National Coordinator of the National Blood Transfusion Service, said that regular blood donation improved a donor’s overall cardiovascular health.
She said consistent blood donation was associated with lowered risk of cancer in the liver, lungs, stomach and the colon.
“Donation of blood is good for the health of donors, as well as for those who need it. It is important that blood donation takes place in the hospital or clinic or a blood bank, in the presence of medical experts.
“Donation of blood can help in treating patients suffering from cancer, bleeding disorders, chronic anaemia associated with cancer, sickle cell anaemia and other hereditary blood abnormalities.
“It is important to know that the human blood cannot be manufactured, people are the only source and that is why it is important to donate blood, to help those who are in need of it,’’ she said.
Smith said some parameters were significant when donating blood, saying the age bracket must be between 18 and 65 years, with a body weight of 50kg and above, while the haemoglobin level should be above 12gm/dl.
“There is no risk in donating, particularly at the NBTS where the donation is carefully carried out, starting from taking a brief medical history, a mini-medical check, pre-donation counselling, the donation process proper and post-donation counselling,’’ she said.
The World Blood Donor day is set aside globally by WHO to create awareness on the need to make safe blood and blood products available through voluntary non-remunerated blood donation.
This year’s theme focuses on preparedness especially during emergency situations when the blood banks should always be stocked up. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola