Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) says regular blood donors stand the chance of living five years longer than people who are not regular blood donors.
Prof. Titi Adeyemo, Head, Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, LUTH, gave the assertion on Wednesday during a voluntary blood donation exercise at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Lagos office premises in Lagos.
Adeyemo, also a Consultant Haematologist, explained that blood donation kept the bone marrow active, which in turn kept the individual younger.
The haematologist decried that Nigeria still heavily relied on family replacement donors; where relatives were forced to donate blood.
She, therefore, urged people not to wait for an emergency before they start donating blood.
According to her, the department goes out as often as it gets invitations to come for blood donation. The essence of going to seek blood donation is to supplement the blood that is being generated within the hospital.
“It is very safe for people between 18 and 65 years of age to donate blood three or four times a year.
“Blood donation keeps the bone marrow active and once the bone marrow is active, it keeps the individual younger.
“And some evidences have shown that regular blood donors live five years extra than people who are not regular blood donors; because their bone marrow is continually renewed,” Adeyemo said.
