NGO decries citizens apathy to voluntary blood donation

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Timilehin Leukemia Foundation (TLF), on Tuesday decried Nigerians’ attitude, especially residents of Lagos, to voluntary blood donation.

The founder of TLF, Mrs Janet Bamidele, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the voluntary blood donations for Luekemia patients at Ikeja.

NAN reports that in commemoration of World Leukemia Day marked on Sept. 4 every year, TLF organised a voluntary blood donation drive at Ikeja.

The exercise attracted fewer numbers of volunteers for the blood donations while some that were approached preferred to have a cash backing before the exercise.

Bamidele, in her reaction urged people to see beyond the exercise and embrace the humanity service in it.

“Today’s voluntary blood donations was successful but the truth of the matter is that the turnout was lower than what we are expecting.

“This means that there is not much awareness among the people about blood donations in spite of the rigorous campaigns, walk and enlightenment, people are still reluctant.

“Some donors are asking for money, while many people came to sell their blood. I had an encounter with someone who demanded for N5,000.

“The level of poverty is responsible for this situation whereby people are not ready to sacrifice for humanity sake; service to humanity should not be for sale,” she said

“TLF is about service, due to our experience in the past where leukemia patients were left with no blood to survive.

“We don’t want this trend to continue. Blood donated for leukemia patients is not for sale just like other patients in need such as pregnant women, accident victims and others.

“The Lagos State government has  been doing all  its power to ensure that our blood banks are in right capacity, through various incentives. It is now the duty of the citizens to adequately respond.

“These blood donations are to help ourselves in time of need which can be anybody.  At Ikeja centre, we have about 30 people who donated in a community of more than 20,000 people.

“Blood donations is the responsibility of the citizens because it may be too late during emergencies, when we will be scampering for those that will donate bloods,” she said.

Bamidele also emphasised that all the barriers toward having seamless blood transfusion had been removed by the government, adding that citizens needed to complement government’s efforts.

“The Lagos State government has removed the compulsory fees for blood testing, while it is also not mandatory again for the husbands of pregnant women to donate blood before delivery.

“These are lofty ideas and initiative by the government which we need to complement. Maybe we will need more orientation about this exercise and that we should not be necessarily waiting for emergency situations.

“An average individual can donate blood at least three times in a year and not just anywhere, but government accredited centers. Blood donations do not have any side effects,” she said. (NAN)