Shortage of blood hits Anambra Hospitals as Red Cross comes to the rescue -------urges Anambra residents to donate blood twice yearly

 

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Nigeria Red Cross Society has urged Anambra residents to form the habit of donating blood twice a year in order to meet the blood requirement in the state.


The Vice-Chairman of Red Cross, Anambra Chapter, Prof. Peter Katchy, made the appeal in a chat with newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra on yesterday.


Katchy made the appeal against the back-drop of shortage of blood to meet emergency health situations and hospitals’ needs within Anambra and the country in general.


``One of the major Red Cross activities in Anambra State is Blood Donors Recruitment drive.


``Red Cross calls on the people of the state to develop the habit of engaging in Voluntary Blood Donation as a way of life in order to enable the state and country meet the requirements of demand for safe blood transfusion services.


``Voluntary blood donation saves the lives of women who lose their lives during child birth due to anemia.


``It would as well reduce maternal mortality and help those patients that are suffering from blood related diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, victims of gunshots injuries, accidents victims amongst others,’’ he said.


The Red Cross boss noted that the organization was emphasizing on young donors who would willingly donate blood for people in need to save their lives.


Katchy said that it was regrettable that the country needs about two million units of blood annually but what is currently collected was about 25,000 units of blood yearly.


According to him, the insinuation that a person can die while donating blood is not true, rather blood donation makes the donor healthier and strong.


`` The Nigeria Red Cross Society, Anambra State, therefore, urge you to donate blood at least twice a year to save lives,’’ he added.


It would be recalled that during the Onitsha tanker fire incident, which claimed over 69 lives and 50 other injured, some hospitals were unwilling to admit some of the victims of the incident due to lack of blood to give them instant and necessary attention.