People who donate blood regularly may live five years longer than those who do not, according to Professor Titi Adeyemo, Head of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
Adeyemo made this statement on Wednesday during a voluntary blood donation drive at the News Agency of Nigeria’s (NAN) Lagos office. She explained that donating blood keeps the bone marrow active, which plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and youthfulness.
“Blood donation keeps the bone marrow active, and once the bone marrow is active, it keeps the individual younger,” she said. “Some evidence shows that regular blood donors live five years longer than those who are not regular donors, as their bone marrow is continually renewed.”
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She also expressed concern that Nigeria still depends heavily on family replacement donors—cases where relatives are forced to donate blood during emergencies. She urged Nigerians to embrace voluntary blood donation rather than waiting for a crisis.
“It is very safe for people between the ages of 18 and 65 to donate blood three or four times a year,” Adeyemo said, stressing that regular donation helps improve the country’s blood supply while also benefiting the donor’s health.
According to her, the haematology department at LUTH frequently responds to requests for blood donation drives to supplement the hospital’s blood bank.
She encouraged more Nigerians to develop the habit of donating blood voluntarily, saying it could save lives while also improving their own health.