24th September, 2012
Over 200 students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu and Isolo campuses donated blood to the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee during the Students’ Union week of the institution.
Head of Blood Donor Unit of Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Yinka Animashaun who disclosed this noted that the number of donors would have been more if not that some students had started their examination while she advised those who could not donate due to their low blood level to eat lots of vegetables, fruits and drink water regularly.
Animashaun, however, commended the students for coming out to save lives by donating their blood, saying that the blood donor drive was a regular exercise targeted at higher institutions, corporate, religious and youth organizations.
She appealed to the mass media to assist in sensitising the public on the need to donate blood, adding that a male or female who is between the ages of 18 and 65 could donate.
Mrs. Sherifat Lawal, a member of the blood transfusion committee said the agency was intensifying effort on voluntary blood donation in order to ensure availability of blood in the blood banks.
Lawal stated that voluntary blood donation was being encouraged instead of family replacement, adding that voluntary blood donation was better than family replacement because of majority of those who come for family replacement did so for financial benefit.
“Blood donor drive is a continuous exercise that is being targeted at the people within the age of 18 and 65. Students of higher institutions can join club 25, a youth organization that is interested in saving the lives of people by voluntarily donating their blood as well as sensitising the public on the need for voluntary blood donation.
“The Lagos State Blood Transfusion service occasionally gives blood to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and also National Blood Transfusion service in order to assist them,” she said.
Some of the students who donated blood during the exercise commended the government for taking health issues seriously, adding that it was good to donate blood in order to save lives.
Miss Adesiyanbola Williams, ND II student of Regional Planning Department, LASPOTECH, Ikorodu after donating blood, noted that the processes involved in donating blood was simple while urging people to donate voluntarily.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga