The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital through her Haematology department, over the weekend received members of a club known as De Norsemen Kclub of Nigeria (DNKN) for a rare but commendable charity gesture for voluntary blood donation.
The team formally received at the department’s Blood Transfusion Seminar room by the leadership at the department commended the thoughtfulness of the club to support the hospital in volunteering to donate blood which will save the lives of patients in need of blood transfusion on emergency medical intervention.
Voluntary blood donation is rarely done in developing countries like ours unlike the develop world, where most donors are unpaid volunteers for community supplies because of their informed orientation to cater for emergency medical interventions.
Globally through the WHO and other concerned agencies there are records of increased donation because of the drive for blood donation before and after 14th June , when haematologist celebrate world blood donor day, and after that , the push to encourage more donation weighs out till the following year
Report from the National Blood service commission (NBSC), ( the commission saddled with the responsibility to ensure safe blood donation, research and reports for use of hospitals), says only 27% (500,000pints) of it’s yearly needs comes from voluntary donors leaving a shortfall of 73.3% of blood needs for emergency medical intervention that could save lives. Hence the sensitization to encourage more individual who could donate safe blood to do so and as regularly possible.
The need for blood donation in an hospital like ours can not be overemphasis as its essential for the effective management of bleeding conditions that may occur through pregnancy and child birth, severe anaemia caused by malaria, malnutrition. Patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions; victims of trauma, emergencies, disasters and accident, and patients undergoing advanced medical surgical procedures are cases regularly seen in the hospital and would need blood transfusion or other pharmaceutical blood product to manage their health condition successfully.
It was on this note a group know as
De Norsemen Kclub of Nigeria visited the hospital to volunteer to donate blood for patients in the hospital. According to the visiting group De Norsemen Kclub of Nigeria is a confraternity founded in the University of Port Harcourt, in 1982 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria as a social charity. The aim of the group is to provide healthcare support, carrying out health outreach programs as well as medical mission.
In his opening speech, the leader of the group His Royal Highness Alhaji Abdulrahaman Saleh said that the objective of the group is about service to humanity, and this time they are doing that by donating blood to people in need. Saleh thanked the hospital management for warmly receiving the Kclub.
The chairman of De Canta Catalina (DCCMP), a branch of De Norsemen Kclub in Rivers state, Chief Fred Eubomien encouraged members not to hide the identity of the kclub and that the essence of the kclub is to give back to the society. He further disclosed that some patients who come to the hospital cannot afford afford their medical bill hence the reason for donation.
Representatives of the department, an Assistant Director of Medical Laboratory Services, Dr Anya Chukwu while receiving members of the club noted that donating blood to the hospital will reduce the rate of mortality caused by blood shortage, he told the group that its name will be documented as a life saver in the hospital. In collaboration, was the Association of Female Medical Laboratory Scientists (AFMLS), UPTH chapter through her treasurer, Wale Ndimati who on behalf of her executives welcomed the De Norsemen Kclub and used the opportunity to solicit for more social responsibility support from the group to partner in community service.
On behalf of the hospital management and the haematology department, was the head of department, Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Dr. Okite Uchechukwu, who commended the club, and expressed sincere appreciation to the group and admonished them to keep the good work.
A total number of 19 units of blood were donated at the end of the exercise.
Healthy individuals are encouraged to cultivate the habit of regular voluntary blood donation to help save lives , especially in emergency situation.
-Philomena Idoko
