He said this on Wednesday, during an event organised by the National Blood Service Commission to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day in Abuja.
The PUNCH reports that the 2023 World Blood Donor Day, themed “Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often”, is an annual event held worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation, recognise the contributions of voluntary unpaid blood donors to health care systems and to encourage more people to become regular blood donors.
John, who is the official highest blood donor in Nigeria, added that blood donation is not about money but about giving others a chance to live.
According to him, exchanging blood for money has never been a fascination since the virtue of saving lives became an abiding philosophy he started cherishing about 18 years ago. This is just as he recalled declining a financial gratification of N10 million from a man whose child was at risk of dying owing to blood shortage.
Speaking with our correspondent, John said, “I am so proud to be a regular blood donor. As a donor, it has changed my life and for 18 years, it has been a regular way to give back to society. For me, blood donation is a willing act to save any recipient who is in need of blood.
“As a donor, I see myself as someone who stands in the gap to connect the community, family and everyone who is in need.
“Two years, an unknown person called me, asking me to donate for his child and offered N10 million but I rejected it because I am not donating my blood because of money.
“If it was about money, I would have made a fortune as I have been doing this for 18 years, but it is not about money, it is about giving to save lives without accepting any other benefit.
He further advised the youths to embrace the noble act while expressing hope to continue regular donations till the age of 90 if the legal frameworks permit.
“I advise the teeming youths to donate more blood. I started donating blood at the age of 23 and I have kept that fire burning till date and I hope to continue donating till 90 years, if the policy allows me.”
Nigerians donate 500 pints out of 2m needed annually – FG
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has lamented the low donation rates of blood in the country, revealing that Nigerians donate only 500,000 units of blood out of the two million units of blood required yearly.
Speaking during a ministerial press briefing, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Olufunso Adebiyi, dispelled cultural and spiritual myths and urged Nigerians to willingly and regularly donate blood to enable sufficiency of blood for those who need it stressing that men should donate every three months and women every four months.
The perm sec represented by the Acting Director General of the National Blood Service Commission, Joseph Amedu, hinted at the proliferation of the blood black market due to operations of unaccredited blood service delivery and stressed the need for more awareness on voluntary donations.
He said, “According to the global health report, Nigeria needs an average of 2 million units of blood annually to keep the health of its about 200 million populations safe and sound. It is sad to note that out of these 200 million units of blood required as a nation, the blood service Commission collects only 500,000 units which is 25 per cent of the expected annual blood donation.”
“Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year, and can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions to live longer.”
