The KB Klub, a socio-philanthropic organization of medical students from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, in partnership with the Oba Elegushi Foundation, held the second edition of its blood donation drive on Friday. The initiative is aimed at raising awareness and addressing the critical shortage of safe blood in the nation’s healthcare system.
Speaking during the exercise in Lagos, the team leader of the KB Klub, Sheriffdeen Oloyode, stated that the initiative seeks to provide relief for patients with various medical conditions who rely on blood transfusions. The donation drive, tagged “Your Power to Gift Life 2.0,” has a target of collecting 3,000 pints of blood.
The initiative is being conducted simultaneously across seven locations in the state, with the goal of raising at least 500 pints of blood from each center. The other donation centers include Surulere, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Ikorodu General Hospital, UNILAG Indoor Sports Centre, Jara Mall, Ikeja, and Tinubu Square, Lagos Island.
“It is estimated, according to the World Health Organization, that Nigeria needs 1.8 million units of blood yearly, but we get less than 500 units of blood from voluntary blood donation.
“The initiative aims to save lives, particularly for patients with sickle cell disease, anemia, and those who require blood transfusions due to accidents or surgery.
“There are so many people who need blood yearly and daily, and you have mothers who die during childbirth.
“Mothers need blood after they give birth, and this blood shortage is one of the causes of that maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage,” he said.
Oloyode urged Nigerians to participate in the blood donation drive and help save lives.
He said the project had partnered with regulatory bodies, including the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
He said the blood collected would be distributed to general hospitals across six local government areas.
Oba Saheed Elegushi of the Ikate/Elegushi Kingdom emphasized the importance of blood donation, citing its benefits for both donors and recipients.
“Donating blood improves your well-being and makes you feel good; it also helps detox your body. It helps save lives, which is the most important thing.”
The traditional ruler noted that many people are misinformed about blood donation, with some believing that they do not have enough blood in their system.
Elegushi urged concerned authorities to increase sensitization efforts on the need for blood donation.
“I think we need to do more in sensitizing people, educate them and also send more messages out on the need to donate blood.
“I will urge the right authorities to do more in sensitising people on the need to do more,” Elegushi said.
Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, emphasised the need for continued advocacy on blood donation.
“We go out a lot. In short, two weeks before today, we have been going to different communities to talk about voluntary blood donation; who needs blood; why you need blood; how blood is collected.
“You will be surprised that many people still have all those myths and false information. They really do not know most of these things.
“Some of them grew up knowing the wrong things about blood donation because of the bad experiences of people in the past. So, our advocacy is not yet enough,” she said.
She said the blood collected would be taken to the state’s blood transfusion centres and designated hospitals for processing and screening.
“Once screened, the blood will be distributed to various hospitals, including Lagos State Accident and Emergency.
“Once it is processed and screened for transmission and transmissible infectious agents removed, it is deemed to be fit,” she said.
Osikomaiya said that the Lagos State Government had made provision for indigent individuals and those living with sickle cell disorder to access blood from the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee’s blood banks without paying out-of-pocket.
“I can assure you that the blood we are collecting here is not even enough. I give it at least one week, all the blood will be used, so we need people to do more,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to the foundation and partners, including the Kb Klub for the initiative, urging other foundations to emulate.
Yvonne Jegede, a Nigerian actress and producer, expressed admiration for the selfless act of blood donation, emphasising the need for increased awareness about voluntary blood donation in Nigeria.
