In honor of World Blood Donor Day, SustainablePEOPLE, an organization dedicated to promoting social responsibility and sustainability, launched a campaign to educate the public on the importance of blood donation.
Under the theme “20 Years of Celebrating Giving: Thank You, Blood Donors,” they collaborated with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service to host an event at Gbagada Central Hospital, Lagos state.
The highlight of the occasion was the group members contributing to the nation’s blood bank in support of humanitarian efforts and to help address the ongoing shortage of blood donations throughout the country.
World Blood Donor Day occurs annually on June 14 to advocate for blood donation and recognize the critical role of voluntary donors worldwide.
During her opening remarks, Abiola Aminu, the Health Safety and Environment Manager at VitaFoam Nigeria PLC and the lead of SustainablePEOPLE’s Blood Donor Drive, emphasized the importance of increasing blood donations in Nigeria, shedding light on the immediate need for more donors.
Aminu highlighted, “We are doing this to mark World Blood Donor Day and to raise awareness about the critical need for blood donation.
“In Nigeria, the demand for blood is increasing due to the rise in specialised medical cases such as leukaemia and cancer, but our blood banks are running low. This campaign is our response to that urgent need.
“Before now, there wasn’t much awareness about the importance of blood donation. Many people, myself included, had misconceptions about the process.
“Through our webinar with the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, we educated our members on the dos and don’ts of blood donation. This enlightenment has significantly increased our turnout today.”
Further speaking, an HSE practitioner and team member, Mebawondu Samson, highlighted the life-saving impact of the blood drive.
“As an emergency specialist, I see firsthand the critical need for blood.
“The WHO reports that over 1.19 million people die annually from road traffic accidents, and every day, more than 6,000 people need blood. By donating blood, we are helping to save lives and making our communities safer,” Samson stated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that only 40% of global blood donations (118.5 million) come from high-income countries, which account for just 16% of the global population.
To address this disparity, the WHO recommends national blood policies and integrated supply networks to ensure adequate and safe blood supplies.
Samson highlighted the ongoing struggle to bridge the gap between blood demand and supply in Nigeria.
“Every day, about 6,000 people need blood in our hospitals. If just 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population donated blood, we could meet this demand. However, misconceptions and lack of awareness deter many potential donors. We need to educate our communities about the safety and necessity of blood donation to close this gap,” he highlighted.
To dispel common myths, Samson pinpointed ,“Many people believe donating blood will harm them or that their blood will be misused. It’s important to know that your blood is thoroughly screened, and only those fit to donate are allowed to do so. Blood donation is an act of solidarity, and every drop counts.”
