Agency A Consultant Haematologist, Professor Adedoye Dosunmu, has urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation to save lives and enhance access to readily available safe blood. He made the call at a lecture organised by the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos University Teaching Hospital to commemorate ‘2024 World Blood Donor Day’ on Friday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually on June 14, to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives.
The programme was themed, ‘Celebrating 20 Years of Giving: Thank You Blood Donors’. Dosunmu, who was a guest speaker at the event, shed light on the significance of the day, calling for more advocacy in Nigeria as most people do not understand the need for regular blood donation. According to him, there is an urgent need to educate Nigerians on the importance of blood donation, especially as voluntary givers, stressing that more lives are saved if blood can easily be accessed by health institutions and patients when needed.
Highlighting the benefits of voluntary blood donation, Dosunmu said it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, depression, as well as elongates life. The haematologist explained that regular blood donors have the opportunity to have regular medical checkups, which predisposed them to a healthier lifestyle. He pointed out that an individual can donate blood wi.