Doctor warns against indiscriminate blood sale

Written by Abdulkadir Y. Abdullahi Thursday, 30 June 2011 00:00

A medical expert in the department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion at the University of Abuja, Dr Obiageli Nnodu, has cautioned against the use of blood collected from people on commercial negotiations in the country, saying that the use of such blood have high infection risks.

She disclosed this at a symposium organized by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Chapter in collaboration with the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, in Gwagwalada.

According to her, it is good for the culture of voluntary blood donation to be improved upon so as to enhance safe blood transfusion, adding that improved voluntary blood donation in the country will reduce the increasing rate of infant and maternal mortality as a result of blood transfusion.

“It is noteworthy that statistics of blood donors in the country is not encouraging. This is why we call on stakeholders to work out modalities on how relative’s blood replacement donors could be encouraged to be made established donors,” she added.

The medical expert blamed poor blood donation in the country on awareness and misconception, adding that people should be encouraged to donate freely in order to cater for children, pregnant women as well as accident victims.

In his remark, Dr Ishak Lawal, ARD President in the hospital, said the symposium was organized to commemorate with the World Blood Donor Day and also to appreciate voluntary blood donors across the world.

He said ARD is involved in improving the state of blood donation in the country in order to improve medical responses to emergencies and disasters.

“We observed that whatever facilities we have without blood might be compromised in ensuring efficiency in the management of disasters and emergencies,” he added.