By Damilola Kushimo
Medically fit individuals in Isolo community and beyond have been urged to regularly donate blood towards enriching medical services and saving lives.
This humanitarian advice was given on Tuesday when the management team and staff members of Isolo General Hospital staged an awareness walk around the community in order to sensitise residents about the need to engage in regular but voluntary blood donation exercise.
The hospital is also planning to organise its blood donation exercise on Thursday, July 1 in commemoration of this year’s World Blood Donor Day.
The celebration is usually held on June 14. World Health Organisation has given this year’s theme as “Give blood and keep the world beating”.
The Managing Director of the Hospital, Dr Godwin Akhabhoa led the management team and staff members from the Laboratory Services Department and Pathology Haematology and Blood Transfusion Service all in their glittering white Polo T-Shirt and red baseball cap – colour of blood on the awareness walk.
According to him, blood is life as its importance cannot be overemphasised especially in human’s life and also in medical services most especially when treating some sicknesses and during surgeries.
The awareness walk began from the hospital premises when the team moved from clinic to clinic to address people in the hospital and later to various areas in the community.
Akhabhoa explained that the hospital hoped to appeal to the conscience of people in the community about blood donation and also the health and benefits in engaging in such humanitarian and lifesaving act.
He said blood donation gives way to the formation of fresh blood in the system.
Dr Chris Onalu, Consultant and Haematologist in the hospital blamed the apathy of donors as experienced around the globe on misinformation, noting that it has affected the efficiency of medical services across the globe.
He, however, commended the state governor on the trailblazing steps it is taking towards solving the blood donation challenges in the state.
The Head of the Laboratory Department in the hospital Dr Lara Eniayewun explained that anyone in the age bracket of 18 to 65 can donate blood, provided the person is certified to be medically fit and has abundant blood to share.
She further explained that women having their period are exempted from the exercise as well as anyone with medical challenges.
She clarified that people between the age of 60 to 65 must have been donating in the past before they can partake in the exercise.
She further clarified that the sample of the blood will be put through a thorough laboratory test for eligibility and safety.
Also the head of Administration and Human Resource Officer of the hospital, Mrs Oyindamola Ola-Daodu emphasised that there’s no better way to commemorate the exercise than to donate blood in order to keep the world beating.
Akhabhoa expressed his optimism that the hospital will record an impressive turnout of voluntary donors on Thursday when he explained that: “We are looking forward to massive turnout on Thursday. We are not looking for a one-off donation which is good but we also want people who will regularly donate. Every three months you can donate and you’ll be healthy.”
He continued further: “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 arm coming to them and before blood is taken from them we make sure they are fit to donate to donate blood.”
The donation exercise will be held at the MCC Complex in the hospital premises beginning from 10 a.m and other attractions like free genotype, free blood glucose check, free blood check and other gifts will be carried out.