The Branch Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Kano State, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, has raised the alarm over the shortage of blood banks in the state.
He called attention to the issue in Kano on Wednesday at an event to mark the 2023 World Blood Donation Day in the state.
Abdullahi said that the absence of enough blood banks in the state had led to an astronomical rise in the price of blood.
The Red Cross official noted that it had become difficult for the ordinary people to have access to blood when needed during medical emergencies.
He urged stakeholders in the health sector to collaborate towards establishing more blood banks in the state.
”As a society, we have to mobilise people in the community to donate blood in order to support accident victims and patients that require surgery.
”We do this yearly. We take the blood to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for screening,” he added.
Abdullahi said that the blood could only be certified healthy for storage and used after the screening.
Speaking in the same vein, a Haematologist, in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Iliyasu Yusuf, said that public awareness about blood donation was poor.
”The public has to understand the importance of blood donation. People need to be encouraged to voluntarily donate blood.
”Apart from helping to save lives, donating blood will also help people to know their health status,” he said.
A voluntary donor, Hamisu Muhammed, who spoke at the event, said he had been donating blood for about three years.
”I derive joy in helping the sick. I also know that donating blood keeps me healthy. I urge people to come out to support the business of saving lives. There is reward in saving lives,” he said.
NAN reports that the World Health Organisation set aside June 14 to mark the world blood donation day and to raise awareness about the importance of blood in saving lives.
(NAN)
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