By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As a way of debunking the cultural myth surrounding blood donation, the National Orientation Agency, NOA, and the National Blood Transfusion Service, NBTS, is set to take blood drive to the grassroots through deep advocacy to traditional and religious leaders across the country.
In a press release signed by Mr Paul Odenyi, Assistance Director, Press of NOA, the Director General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari made this known when the NBTS Coordinator Dr Omale Joseph Amadu paid him a working visit in his office in Abuja.
Abari said that many Nigerian are not aware of the health benefits of blood donation while some who are aware refrain from donating because of the strongly held beliefs and practices.
This he said has led to to the huge avoidable loss of lives in times of emergency.
He said , ” The issues of cultural and religious beliefs that are inimical to voluntary blood donation must be addressed and changed bin order to encourage people to donate and access age blood.
” Some of these beliefs and practices are not scientifically bases and so they have to be re- examined and in order to do that traditional rulers and religious leaders must be involved. Also the benefits of voluntary blood donation need to be properly articulated to adequately mobilize citizens to donation, Abari said.
The NBTS National Coordinator Dr. Amedu said the mandate of the Service is to provide quality and adequate supplies of safe blood in adequate and cost effective manner to all people resident in Nigeria.
He lamented that the low lei of voluntary blood donation in Nigeria attributing it largely to inhibiting cultural and religious moms.
He disclosed that plans are underway to increase the number of centres from 17 to make room for more centres in order to make safe blood services available to Nigerians.
He said that the NBTS was counting on NOA support to amplify blood safety messages and blood donation advocacy in the country in line with the third global Sustainable development Goals , SDG3.
