By Blessing Bature
The Director General, National Blood Service Commission, Prof Saleh Yuguda on Thursday said that there’s huge gap between demand and supply of blood donation given the reason people dying for lack of blood in Nigeria and other developing countries gradually passing the level of people dying from communicable diseases.
Yuguda disclosed this at the national blood service commission novelty match organized in conjunction with Rotary Club district 9125 to celebrate 20 years blood donor day with the theme “20 years of celebrating giving, thank you!”
According to him, lack of blood in Nigeria is really very problematic for us as a country, adding that from statistics the agency has realized that people dying from road accident and bleeding during child’s delivery is very high than people having non – communicable diseases like cancer as a result of lack of blood in the country and called on the public to come out and donate blood to those who are in dire need of it.
The DG said that June 14 every year is dedicated by the world health organization as the world blood donor day, the essence is to thank those who have been donating blood regularly all over the world and today we are celebrating the 20 years of world blood donor day.
“National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) is the government institution charged with the responsibility of regulating, coordinating, and providing safe, adequate and quality blood and blood products for transfusion in a cost-effective manner to all who may require it in Nigeria with emphasis on voluntary non-remunerated blood donation in order to save lives across the country”.
According to WHO, every minute somebody somewhere is in need of blood transfusion, so we must be deliberate in encouraging ourselves to come out to donate blood to save life, he said, adding that people should not be afraid to donate blood and if you do not donate, after 120 days the blood will naturally die and it will be a waste so each cell of the blood is being replaced every 120 days that’s roughly 4 months.
“Giving blood will not remove anything from you but rather gave you good health. If you don’t have a enough we can’t take it so we check if you have enough and also ensure that you are in good health before taking your blood. Giving out a blood is not harmful, it gives you sense of belonging because you believe you’re helping someone out there because if you look at the demands people need blood more especially people who have accident, some illnesses and some from child birth they all develop that kind of issues that will require blood”.
Speaking on behalf of Rotary district 9125, president of Rotary Club Gwagwalada , FCT, Ayodele kehinde Steven said Rotary Club collaborate with the National blood service commission to expand blood bank system in Nigeria.
According to him, “This is so to ensure that the hospitals have blood available to them for accident victims.
Rotary District 9125 is working with the commission to create awareness for people to donate blood that will be made available for hospitals to helping those in need.
Blood is a very essential part of human living, blood is life so this novelty match in conjunction with NBSC, rotary district 9125 are here to appreciate all the special donor, the blood agency staff because it’s not easy to work with blood which means they are putting their lives in line in taking people’s blood, knowing a lot of things that have to do with blood.
He advocated for people to come out and donate blood to those who are in need of blood urging people to come out for screening and donation of blood because is not enough in our hospitals, saying when we have it sufficiently and people comes out constantly then we are preserving the lives of others than we will not have records of people dying of lack of blood
