Lagos needs 10% of residents to donate blood – NGO

The Programme Director, Timilehin Leukemia Foundation, Mrs. Oluwadamilola Oyedunle, on Monday, said Lagos State needed about 10 per cent of its residents as blood donors to save lives.

She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Valentine’s Day Blood Donation Drive held at Textile Labour House, Acme Road, Ogba.

She said having a such percentage of blood donors in the state would ensure adequate blood in the banks.

According to her, Lagos has yet to attain a minimum of 10 per cent of its citizens for blood donations for a densely populated state.

Oyedunle added that “the goal is to have blood banks in each local government where five to 10 people will walk into health facilities and donate blood.

“We are looking forward to a point where patients who need blood can get into any facility around Lagos and get it without stress.”

The programme director also said that the TLF as an organisation had saved many lives through its intervention programmes.

She said “one of the things we find joy in is saving lives through encouraging voluntary blood donation; this is more paramount and noble than making money.

“We are trying to get more sponsors for our programmes; we need more corporate sponsors to help the health sector.”

The convener of the Valentine’s Day Blood Donation Drive, Mrs. Janet Oyedele, described the exercise as fruitful, saying

it would go a long way in saving the lives of patients in need of blood.

She commended the blood donors for their efforts, adding that the act is noble.

NAN reports that the Valentine’s Day Blood Donation Drive was supported by Fidson Pharmaceutical Ltd and the

Lagos State Blood Transfusion Department. 

(NAN)