Voluntarily donated blood safer, secured – Hematologist

Voluntarily donated blood safer, secured – Hematologist

Blood
By Lilian U. Okoro
Lagos, June 20, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Titi Adeyemo, a Consultant Haematologist, says voluntarily donated blood is safer and more secured than blood donated by relatives of the patient who needs blood.

Adeyemo, an Associate Professor from the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

She decried that Nigeria still heavily relied on family replacement donor, where relatives of the patient were forced to donate blood.

She explained that only five per cent of blood donation in Nigeria was voluntary, saying that 95 per cent of blood used in Nigeria were donated by family relatives of patients who were already sick.

According to her, advanced countries are 100 per cent voluntary blood donation by people who do not know who needs them.

“It is still a challenge that Nigeria still rely on family replacement donor and that people are still not donating enough.

“So, were are forced to rely on family replacement donor; where sick patients would have to bring a family relative to come and donate blood. It shouldn’t be like that.

“Advanced countries are 100 per cent voluntary blood donation; so, every unit of blood that is used in the first world country is donated voluntarily by people who did not know who needs them.

“Only five per cent of blood donation in Nigeria is voluntary, 95 per cent of blood used in Nigeria are donated by relatives of patients who are already sick,” she said

Adeyemo noted that voluntarily donated blood was not only safe, but also secured and more reliable because it gives opportunity for the donor to openly disclose any underlying health condition; which would be treated before the blood donation.

She added that voluntary blood donation created room for full examination and screening of the donor to ascertain his/her fitness for the exercise.

“When relatives who are already stressed and running around to pay hospital bills are forced to donate blood, there maybe some medical history and underlying ailments they will not disclose, making the donated blood unsafe for people to use.

“But, when people are coming forward voluntarily to donate blood, they are going to openly disclose their medical history and we can use that opportunity to guide them to getting treatment and telling them whether they are fit to donate or not.

“If they are fit to donate; and that blood is coming from them voluntarily, it is already well documented that is a more safer blood for the people who need blood.

“So, voluntary blood donation is safer blood than blood you collect from a family relative,” Adeyemo said.

According to her, having a blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system.

The hematologist stressed that ensuring safe and sufficient blood supplies requires the development of a nationally coordinated blood transfusion service based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donations.

According to her, there is a need for a lot of advocacy on voluntary blood donation on a regular basis, because blood from family relatives or a-paid donor cannot necessarily be trusted.

Adeyemo said people need to know that they have to donate blood, as one would not know whose life they may be saving, especially with the high cases of accidents and emergencies from disasters and insurgency.

She, therefore, urged people not to wait for an emergency before they start donating blood.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
LUC/VI

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu