The Global Shapers Community, Kano, has urged Nigerians to embrace voluntary blood donation to help save lives and support patients requiring urgent transfusions. The call was made during the group’s annual blood drive at the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre (KCTC).
The community’s Curator, Mrs Sumayya Tofa, on Saturday September 19, said 108 volunteers donated blood during the exercise, which has been sustained for 13 years. She said the initiative was aimed at addressing blood shortages, particularly for pregnant women with complications, accident victims, people living with anaemia and children with blood-related conditions.
Tofa said the organisation also operates a blood-access initiative that connects patients in need of transfusion with potential donors when relatives or friends are unable to provide blood. She added that the group collected 86 units during its previous drive and was targeting 200 units in a single day, with greater support needed from individuals and organisations.
The Chief Executive Officer of KCTC, Dr Nafisa Abdu, represented by Mr Umar Halliru, said prospective donors undergo pre-donation screening, blood collection and post-donation observation. Medical Laboratory Scientist Mr Shamsuddeen Abubakar added that donated blood is screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis before being approved for use. One donor, 29-year-old Mustapha Abdulwaseeq, said he donated because he regarded blood donation as an act of charity that could help both known and unknown beneficiaries.
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