LASG ENCOURAGES VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION AT GENERAL HOSPITAL IJEDE
In a bid to sensitise and encourage Lagosians to donate blood, the Service Charter team in conjunction with the Laboratory Department of General Hospital, Ijede, has embarked on a free blood donation drive at Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
The Director, Clinical Services and Training, General Hospital, Ijede, Dr. Babatope Oni, said the essence of the advocacy drive was to encourage people to cultivate the habit of donating blood in order to reduce the number of people who lose their lives as a result of inadequate blood in donor banks.
His words: “We enjoin people to cultivate the habit of donating blood voluntarily. It will relieve their relatives of the burden of searching for blood and also save the lives of the patients”.
Factors to put into consideration during blood transfusion, according to Dr. Oni, include age, rhesus factor, weight, grouping and cross-matching, among others.
“Accident victims, patients on dialysis, women with complications during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anaemia, surgical and cancer patients are usually in dire need of blood”, the Director stated.
While informing that recipients of blood donation have reduced chances of having heart attacks, living longer and protection from cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Oni affirmed that donating blood also provides donors with the opportunity for a health check.
He, however, implored participants to cultivate and encourage people to donate blood voluntarily in order to save lives.