2023 World Blood Donor Day: Gift blood to save lives – Experts charge Gombe residents
The Head of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Dr Kasim Muhammad Pindiga, has called on people in the state to voluntarily donate blood to save lives of many patients in dire need of blood transfusion .
Pindiga in an address he delivered at a lecture to mark the 2023 World Blood Donor Day held at the conference hall of the FTH Gombe, said, that single act of blood donation can enhance effective health care service delivery and as well, save a life.
He said 14th June is celebrated annually as blood donor day to encourage people donate blood voluntarily not only when they have relatives or friends in need of blood.
He noted that developed world has achieved adequate number of blood donors that had surpassed demand.
“In developed world,once somebody needs blood they do not need to start mobilising people to donate, The blood is already there. Immediately blood is needed, request is made and it is given,” Dr Pindiga explained
He added that the voluntary blood donation rate at the FTH is insignificant compared to the number of patients in need of blood transfusion calling on people to come and help out.
The Consultant Haematologist added, “People should come to the hospital and see patients dying because they do not have blood. Sometimes we doctors donate blood to our patients but because there is minimum number of blood donation, you cannot be donating every day.”
According to the Expert, anybody within the age of 18 to 65 years, who is not pregnant or not breastfeeding can donate blood.
“There are certain tests carried out on anyone who comes to donate.This is to ensure he or she is safe and protected. There are also benefits of donating blood .You feel healthy, high self-esteem because you have saved a life, your bone marrow which is the organ that produces blood in the body becomes more active even at old age,” he said .
In a paper on clinical blood transfusion, Dr Sale Yuguda, a Reader and Consultant haematologist said about 18.5 blood donations collected globally, 40 per cent are collected in high income countries.
He said the most frequently transfused patient group is over 60 years of age,accounting for up to seventy six percent of all transfusions.
Yuguda said the theme for this year’s campaign focuses on patients requiring life-long support and underlines the role every single person can play by giving the gift of blood or plasma.
He said it also highlights the importance of voluntarily giving blood regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can always be available so that patients in need can receive timely treatment.
The 2023 World Blood Donor Day Campaign is “Give blood, give plasma,share life,share often.”
