Blood donation shortfalls increase risk of preventable deaths in Nigeria

Shortfalls in blood banks across Nigeria caused by donor apathy are worsening the nation’s already high rate of  otherwise preventable deaths, BusinessDay findings show.

The shortage of blood required mostly by victims of accidents  and insurgencies has also contributed to avoidable deaths, particularly among women in child birth, newborns and other children.

These concerns are coming to light as the  World Blood Donor day is observed today.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) remarks that blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood.

This has continued to impact negatively on our productive sector as the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) continues to decline partly on account of early death of the productive ones that would have been able to contribute to the economic growth.

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) for its part is concerned that while the general public  displays apathy to donating blood, the number of those seeking to give their blood in exchange for financial reward is on the rise in the country.

The NBTS  observes that less than 10 percent of blood donations in Nigeria come from voluntary donations, 30 percent from family (and other related sources) while 60 percent come from commercially provided blood.

For instance, out of an estimated 1,336,000 total number of blood units needed by Nigeria each year, approximately 1,130,000 units of blood are collected annually through the various types of donations, leaving a deficit of over 206,000 units, says the NBTS.

Globally, 108 million blood donations are collected and half of these are in high-income countries, only 62 countries collect 100 percent of their blood supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors, and it has also been recommended that blood donation by 1 percent of the population can meet a nation’s most basic requirements for blood.

Oretayo Oni, a medical doctor in Lagos tells BusinessDay that “For those who claim to love their fellow man, blood transfusion in my opinion is the means to back up their words by action. As a medical personnel, I see no reason why a healthy individual should not donate blood at least yearly.

“It is practically harmless and even potentiates benefits to the body, bearing in mind that the red cell constituents of blood are destroyed by the body every four months. Blood transfusion could therefore be seen as saving lives with ones waste product.”

Oni adds that “blood transfusion without incentives should be encouraged and embraced because a pint of blood not only saves a life but spares the pain of losing a loved one.”

Ed Kelley, director of the Department of Service Delivery and Safety at WHO says “Voluntary blood donors come from all walks of life but they have one thing in common: they put others before themselves — people they don’t even know… Each time they donate blood, they commit an act of selfless heroism.”

In Nigeria, the situation can improve if only one per cent of the adult population commit themselves to voluntary non-remunerated blood donation on a regular basis as remarked by Linus Awute, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health. Achieving this is also predicted to go a long way in getting rid of touts and blood racketeering in Nigeria.

“Voluntary blood donation would ensure steady availability of blood for transfusion to save lives, especially during emergencies,” says Alabi Umodi, the coordinator, NBTS in Kogi state, while tasking Nigerians on the need for voluntary blood donation, reports NAN.

Voluntary, unpaid blood donations must be increased rapidly in more than half the world’s countries in order to ensure a reliable supply of safe blood for patients whose lives depend on it, said WHO on World Blood Donor Day.

This year, the theme of the  World Blood Donor Day is “Blood connects us all”, highlighting the common bond that all people share in their blood. The slogan, “Share life, give blood”, draws attention to the role that voluntary donation systems play in encouraging people to care for one another and promoting community cohesion.

“Although we have many external differences, the same vital blood pumps through all our veins,” said  Margaret Chan, a medical doctor and WHO Director-General. “Voluntary, unpaid blood donation is the act of giving life – the greatest gift any person can give or receive.”

The deficit in blood donation has led to many unscrupulous practices, with people desperately commercialising blood .

Caleb Ojewale