By Damilola Kushimo
In commemoration of this year’s World Blood Donor Day, Isolo General Hospital has organised blood donation exercise.
This is coming two days after the management team and staff of the hospital staged an awareness walk around all clinics in the hospital and Isolo community.
The awareness walk was taken to the Palace of the Osolo Of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Alani Agbabiaka.
The celebration is usually held on June 14. World Health Organisation has given this year’s slogan as “Give blood and keep the world beating”.
As explained by the Managing Director of the hospital, Dr Godwin Akhabhoa, the exercise is safe and anyone between the age of 18 – 65 years can donate as he noted that the hospital looks forward to having abundant blood in the blood bank from regular but voluntary donors since donation can be made every three months.
He explained that: “I’m appealing to them that it’s a win-win for anyone. If you’re a donor there are some benefits. When you need blood whether by emergency or whatever means, anytime you need blood in Lagos State, and you have a donor card they won’t think twice before giving you blood, that’s a big advantage. You are sort of insuring your future. When you donate blood, fresh blood is made. It is donation that makes the bone marrow produce fresh blood. As you are donating old ones fresher blood is coming up. Even your relations you won’t know who will benefit. The one you will take or the one your relation will take you won’t know who will donate it. It is good for you to know that someone somewhere is going to benefit from your gesture. We are appealing to the society. They don’t have any harm coming to them and before blood is taken from them we make sure they are fit to donate blood.”
The exercise has commenced in the hospital premises with a fair turnout of voluntary donors.
While some are taking turns to get the series of medical tests done to determine if they are medically fit donor and if they have sufficient blood to donate from some who have been certified are donating already.
