Red Cross Issues Urgent Plea For Voluntary Blood Donations

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has called for greater public participation in voluntary blood donation, emphasising that saving lives should transcend religious, ethnic and social differences across the country.

NRCS National President, Mr Oluyemisi Adetayo, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a Blood Donation Drive and Health Checks event aimed at improving emergency blood availability nationwide.

Adetayo said the initiative sought to improve survival chances for patients in urgent need of blood, noting that Nigeria currently faced a deficit of more than 3,000 litres of blood supply.

“The most important thing is for us to be able to save our brothers, we are all relatives.

“We should care for ourselves,” he said, urging Nigerians to embrace humanity above divisions.

He said in emergencies such as accidents, victims needed assistance, not questions about religion or ethnicity, emphasising that humanity should guide response in critical situations.

“That is the humanity in us. We should just leave our egoistic existence and team up with the cross,” he said.

Adetayo added that anyone in need of blood was entitled to life, regardless of background, urging Nigerians to prioritise saving lives above all considerations.

He said that insecurity and humanitarian crises had increased the number of vulnerable people, including about 3.7 million internally displaced persons nationwide.

He said in spite of ongoing awareness campaigns, regular blood donation culture was still developing in Nigeria, calling for sustained engagement beyond one-off events.

“It is what happens after today that really matters; we need a society where people willingly donate blood regularly,” he said.

Adetayo said the organisation monitored blood storage and distribution with health authorities to ensure safe and proper use of donated blood.

He appealed for government and stakeholder support, urging Nigerians to embrace volunteerism and collective responsibility in saving lives.

Donor recruiter, Ms Omotayo Ottun, emphasised the importance of medical screening before donation, noting that eligibility was often misunderstood due to myths and misinformation.

She said women could donate blood every four months while men could donate every three months, provided they met medical requirements.

Ottun encouraged safe and voluntary donation practices, saying the organisation discouraged paid donations to ensure safety for both donors and recipients.

Voluntary donor, Ms Eberechukwu Udeoji, also encouraged Nigerians to donate regularly, saying she had donated for years without complications and remained committed to saving lives.