Janet Ogundepo For men who have fears that donating blood would negatively affect their libido, haematologists and blood transfusion experts have clarified that the process is safe and does not impact sexual drive or desire. They also reassured that it does not make donors sick, noting that several screenings and tests are usually conducted to ascertain a donor’s health status and blood level before being bled. The haematologists emphasised that both males and females can donate blood and encouraged Nigerians to voluntarily donate to save the many lives in dire need of blood.
PUNCH Healthwise gathered from several studies that beliefs such as sexual failure or reduced sexual performance, falling sick, blood being used for ritual purposes, and contracting infection were factors hindering voluntary blood donation. As a result, only 27 per cent, that is about 500,000 pints of blood is obtained every year from voluntary donors as revealed by Nigeria’s National Blood Service Commission. This further implies that about 73.
3 per cent of blood needed in the blood bank, is obtained from commercial and family replacement donors. Family replacement donation is where a patient’s relative donates the amount of blood needed or used by their relative while commercial donation is where individuals donate blood in return for money or other incentives. However, the World Health Organisation recommends and recognises voluntary blood donation and expects that every country gets 100 per cen.