Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has stated that regular blood donors may live up to five years longer than those who do not donate regularly.
Prof. Titi Adeyemo, the Head of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at LUTH, made this claim on Wednesday during a voluntary blood donation event at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) office in Lagos.
Prof. Adeyemo, also a Consultant Haematologist, explained that donating blood helps keep the bone marrow active, which in turn helps individuals stay younger.
Read Also:Â Tinubu Approves New Retirement Age For Doctors, Healthcare Workers
She lamented that Nigeria still heavily relies on family replacement donors, where relatives are forced to donate blood, and urged people to donate blood regularly instead of waiting for emergencies.
She noted that the department regularly participates in blood donation drives upon invitation to supplement the blood generated within the hospital.
According to her, it is safe for people aged 18 to 65 to donate blood three or four times a year, and that regular blood donation keeps the bone marrow active, which promotes overall health and longevity.
She also highlighted that studies suggest regular blood donors live five years longer than those who do not donate because their bone marrow is continually renewed.
In his remarks, Mr. Adeyinka Adewale, the Unit Head of Blood Donor Recruitment at LUTH, emphasized the need for more Nigerians to develop the habit of voluntary blood donation.
He pointed out the lack of awareness in the country about the importance of regular blood donation and called for more advocacy to educate Nigerians on the life-saving benefits of donating blood voluntarily.
He noted that voluntary blood donation not only saves lives but also helps maintain a steady supply of blood for medical use when needed.
Adewale further explained that voluntary blood donation helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, and depression, and can lead to a longer, healthier life.
He also mentioned that regular blood donors benefit from periodic medical check-ups, which encourage healthier lifestyles.
He added that people can donate blood every three months, which means they can donate up to three or four times per year.
He highlighted that blood is crucial for both planned treatments and emergency medical interventions, and that it supports complex surgeries, helps in the treatment of wounded individuals during emergencies, and plays an essential role in maternal and perinatal care.
Therefore, he emphasized the need for more people to donate blood to improve access to safe, readily available blood.
Adewale thanked the NAN staff for their strong participation in the event, noting that NAN had been a regular donor for over six years.
One of the regular blood donors, Oladapo Udom, an Assistant Chief Correspondent at NAN, expressed that donating blood gives him joy because it helps save lives.
He shared that he had been donating blood regularly for the past three years, and that the act keeps him fit and rejuvenates his body.
Udom also acknowledged that some people refuse to donate blood due to superstitions, while others may not be medically fit to do so.
However, he encouraged those who are eligible to donate blood, as they could unknowingly save a life.
