A former Head of the Department of Haematology, University of Ilorin, Prof. Hannah Oluwayemisi Olawumi, has encouraged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of regular blood donation in order to save lives as she described those who donate blood voluntarily as heroes.

               Prof. Olawumi gave this advice last Thursday (April 24, 2025) while delivering the 279th Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled “Heroes without Capes: The Life-Saving Power of Blood Sacrifice”, at the institution’s Auditorium.

               The renowned medical scholar explained that blood donation is not only essential for the survival of those who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses and the injured but also has positive effects on the health of the donors.

               The Inaugural Lecturer said in every two minutes someone around the world needs blood, which makes him or her to depend on the kindness of strangers for survival, hence, the description of such voluntary donors as heroes.

               Prof. Olawumi, who described blood as an essential ingredient for medical treatments, explained that it is often unfortunately in short supply, especially for some categories of patients.

               She added that transfusion of blood and blood products help in saving millions of lives each year, enhance life expectancy and improve the quality of life for patients facing life-threatening conditions.

               Prof. Olawumi, who is an expert in blood transfusion, said that it is unfortunate that Nigeria has not been able to meet its minimum blood requirements as stated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

               She noted that Nigeria only boasts of about 1.2 million units of donated blood annually against two million units it requires for efficient health care delivery.

               Prof. Olawumi noted that 5 per cent of the total blood donated in Nigeria comes from voluntary donors while the rest is sourced from commercial and family replacement donors.

               Against the backdrop of unfounded fear being peddled in some quarters, Prof. Olawumi explained that donation of blood by healthy individuals have no negative effects whatsoever on them.

               She said that even in the process of blood donation some illnesses hitherto unknown to the carriers are often discovered by experts who will then encourage such individuals to seek help.

               In order to encourage the act of voluntary blood donation, the Inaugural Lecturer charged national health authorities to facilitate the establishment of well-coordinated blood programmes backed by appropriate legislations.

               She added that sufficient funds should also be provided for more intensive advocacy that would be targeted at the encouragement of voluntary blood donation among the populace.

               Prof. Olawumi said that more intense advocacy specifically aimed at youths, promotion of peer education and motivation, and the broadening of the educational curriculum should be embarked upon to instill a sense of civic responsibility at a young age so as to catalyse increase in voluntary blood donation among youths in Nigeria.

               Drawing from her over three decades of experience, Prof. Olawumi pointed out that specific and focused capacity-building initiatives should also be introduced to foster a paradigm shift in the attitude of hospital staff, particularly those in the blood bank, towards their work.

               She noted that the attitude of some of the staff in blood banks often discourage people from donating, saying that those who will donate needed to be encouraged and stimulated to do so.

               Relying on statistics that show poor level of desire for blood donation among women, the Inaugural Lecturer said female-targeted donor education and awareness programmes should also be implemented in Nigeria to enhance women’s participation in blood donation.

               She also suggested that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should engage in donor education and advocacy to alleviate fears and dispel myths about blood donation among Nigerian men and women of all ages.

               Prof. Olawumi also said that donor selection criteria should be periodically reviewed to ensure that there is no discrimination of any kind, including gender, race, nationality, or religion, and to prevent the unnecessary deferral of suitable donors.

She equally encouraged the sustenance of more efforts that would be focused on encouraging interested individuals to become regular voluntary donors, thereby improving and sustaining the blood supply in our blood banks.

               The Inaugural Lecturer, who noted that but for the insistence of her father she would have pursued a different professional calling other than Medicine, encouraged parents to always give their children close monitoring.

               She said that children, particularly those who are in primary and secondary schools, require greater counseling for them to have an enviable future.

               The Inaugural Lecture, which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, was well attended by relations, friends, students and colleagues of Prof. Olawumi from far and near.