Problem Statement

Globally, millions of people die from preventable causes stemming from the lack of blood in hospital blood banks which serve to mitigate complications. According to the World Health Organization, blood donations is needed for women with complications in pregnancy, severely anaemic children, people with severe trauma following man-made (including accidents) and natural disasters, and many complex medical and surgical procedures and cancer patients. 

The National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 estimates that maternal mortality rate and pregnancy-related mortality rates stand at 512 maternal deaths and 556 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births respectively. Far threatening is the neonatal mortality rate which stands at 39 deaths per 1000 live births in Nigeria. These statistics by far shows the lives lost on daily basis in Nigeria.

Today, most medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from donors, as 1 in 7 people entering the hospital needs blood. Many hospitals run out of blood in the blood banks due to the overwhelming number of complications presented on a daily and weekly basis. 

Blood donation is important because maintaining an adequate blood supply in our community secures blood transfusions for patients. Donating blood will save millions of lives in our community especially in Kano State its large population and a vast number of people seeking medical attention.

Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person – the gift of life. You can save a life by donating your blood.

Proposed Solution

The blood drive campaign has been one of Kano Hubs annual projects that have become a tradition since the hubs inception in 2013. The Hub organizes a Blood Drive to commemorate World Blood Donor Day which is held on the 14th of June every year. The aim of the campaign is to create awareness of the importance and benefits of voluntary blood donation in addition to getting people to donate on this particular day. The Hub partners with health organizations and Hospitals whose staff carry out the blood collection. Other health care professionals also volunteer to take donors’ vital signs (pulse rate, blood pressure etc) and counsel them on the benefits of donating blood regularly. In its fifth year, this annual event is organised by the Kano Shapers to commemorate the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Blood Donor Day which is the 14th of June every year. However, as this date fell within the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at which time fasting Muslims wouldn’t be able to donate, the Kano Shapers held this event on a later date. As always, the actual event was preceded by a massive online campaign – which generated over 1000 retweets, and 1000 likes/shares – aimed at creating awareness about the event as well as about voluntary blood donation. The event was well attended, with a good turnout of female donors who are usually in the minority in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Potential donors braved a rainy morning to “share life”, much in line with this year’s theme. Donors between the ages of 18 – 25 years, whom the WHO identifies as a one of the major ways to reach a country’s blood donation targets, were well represented. Much older donors were not left behind either. Potential donors were screened for fitness to donate before proceeding to do so. There was no shortage of finger-licking treats for donors, generously provided by many of the best food and drink services in Kano. Many donors went home with memorable prizes after winning the raffle draws. The WHO targets that 100% of every country’s blood needs be gotten through regular voluntary unpaid blood donation, a target which about 57 – mostly high-income – countries have been able to achieve. Nigerians patients in need of blood still rely heavily on family replacement, and paid donation in some instances – despite this being generally discouraged even if legally done in places like the US but not the UK. However, hospitals cannot sell donated blood, but can charge for tests done to screen the blood for safety and compatibility. The annual blood drive is the Kano Shapers’ way of advocating for and encouraging regular voluntary unpaid donation in order to help meet up the need of Nigerian patients for blood, which is estimated at about 1.8 million pints per annum. Blood donation saves lives. Different categories of patients may require blood or blood components. These include pregnant women with bleeding complications around delivery, victims of road traffic and other accidents, patients with sickle cell anaemia, children with anaemia due to severe malaria or malnutrition, new born babies with jaundice, patients with cancer, patients going for surgery, among many others. Blood donation is beneficial to the donor in that it may lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers; in addition to making them heroes who have saved lives through their donations!