Angela Onwuzoo
The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, has donated blood to the Federal Medical Center, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, as part of efforts to reduce the nation’s huge blood supply deficit and save lives.
The donation, which was carried out under the auspices of Zanas Deck (Lagos Mainland Chapter) of the association was in commemoration of the 2023 World Blood Donor Day.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated around the world on 14 June every year to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives.
The day is also an opportunity to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
The theme for this year’s commemoration was “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”
According to the World Health Organisation, just one unit of blood can save the lives of up to three patients.
The event attracted over 30 members of NAS, their wives and children to further deepen the intervention.
The bi-annual medical intervention exercise is an initiative under the NAS medical mission aimed at intervening in critical areas of need in the medical sector.
Speaking on the initiative, Capoon of Zanas Deck, Mr. Nnamdi Agulonu, who led other members to the blood donation exercise, said the association has always heeded the call to save lives.
According to him, this is another one in the series of blood donation exercises that the organisation would be carrying out.
He stated that the blood donation intervention was organised in fulfilment of one of the four compass points of the Pyrates Confraternity, which is-For Humanistic ideals.
Agulonu explained that the association picked FMC, Ebute Metta this quarter as a result of the blood bank gap experienced by patients accessing treatment at the tertiary health facility.
He reiterated that the association had previously donated blood to the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, and National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos.
“We have identified this societal gap and are prepared to contribute to humanity’s upliftment by making sure that every six months we will have our members donate blood within its immediate locality,” Agulonu said.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director, FMC, Ebute-Metta, Dr. Dada Adedemola, represented by the Director of Medical Laboratory Services, Mr. Victor Ojedapo, commended members of the Zanas Deck for the kind gesture and reminded Nigerians of the need to donate blood for indigent members of the public.
Adedemola listed the importance of blood donation to include – boosting the production of new blood cells, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, preventing excess body iron, benefits from simple health screening and self-pride of saving lives amongst others too numerous to mention.
He also noted that blood donors assist patients of all ages, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and cancer patients.
He, however, urged other public-spirited organisations to emulate NAS and donate blood to the hospital.
Recall that the National Coordinator of the National Blood Service Commission Dr. Joseph Amedu, during last year’s commemoration, said out of about 500,000 blood units collected in Nigeria annually, only five per cent are from voluntary donors.
“Nigeria has a blood need of approximately two million units based on a population of about 200 million.
“But just about half a million blood units are currently collected in Nigeria annually and only five per cent are from voluntary blood donors.
“Blood transfusion is important. 95 per cent of the blood sourced from paid commercial and family replacement donors is what we have in Nigeria,” Dr. Amedu said.
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