A Professor of Haematology of the Edo State University Uzairue, Prof. Musa Muhibi has said that Nigeria required a minimum of 1.8 million units of blood every year to meet the blood transfusion need of its citizens.
Muhibi, who is the Dean of Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, however, said some of the blood donors are not adequately screened for blood-borne infections and other health conditions
He said this while delivering the 7th Inaugural lecture series of the University titled ‘The Cycle in Blood Safety: Being Efficiently, Selfish and Effectively Generous.’
He added that the rate of blood donation in Nigeria is low, with only maximum of 10 per cent being voluntary blood donors.
He said, “Nigeria has one of the lowest voluntary blood donation rates globally, with only 10 per cent of blood supply coming from voluntary donors.
“The majority of the blood supply, which is about 60 per cent, comes from family replacement donors while 30 per cent comes from paid blood donors.
“Therefore, strategies aimed at promoting voluntary blood donation are needed in Nigeria to increase the availability of safe blood and meet the high demand for blood transfusions”, he said.
The haematology professor also noted that the demand for blood transfusion is high in Nigeria, as the country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally and increased prevalence of infectious diseases such as malaria which requires blood transfusion.
He said blood transfusion is a crucial aspect of healthcare services, particularly in emergency situations and during medical procedures like surgeries, adding that it can save lives by providing blood for transfusion to patients in need of blood.
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