The Global Shapers Community, Kano Hub, has successfully conducted its 13th annual blood donation drive, collecting 108 pints of blood at the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre. The event drew a large crowd of young people and community members who volunteered to donate blood to support patients in need of transfusions. This initiative is part of the organisation's efforts to address blood shortages for medical emergencies.
According to Sumayya Umar Tofa, the curator of the Global Shapers Community, Kano Hub, the annual blood drive has been sustained for 13 years. The collected blood will support patients, including women experiencing complications during pregnancy and childbirth, accident victims, people living with anaemia, and children with blood-related conditions.
The Global Shapers Community also operates a blood-access initiative that links patients in need with potential donors, particularly when relatives or friends are unable to provide the required blood. This initiative has recorded significant successes over the years, with the previous drive collecting 86 pints of blood and the 2026 edition collecting 108 pints.
Sumayya Umar Tofa appealed to individuals, organisations, and development partners to support the initiative, stating that stronger partnerships could enable the project to collect up to 200 pints in a single day and potentially expand beyond Kano State. She also mentioned that Médecins Sans Frontières participated in this year's exercise, which will further support its free medical services in Kano by helping provide blood for patients who require transfusion.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre, Dr Nafisa Abdu, represented by Umar Halliru, explained the blood donation process. Prospective donors undergo three stages: pre-donation screening, blood donation, and post-donation observation. The screening process determines whether a donor is healthy and fit to give blood.
Shamsuddeen Muhammad Abubakar, a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the centre, provided more details on the blood collection process. Blood collection involves either a 250-millilitre paediatric blood bag or a 450-millilitre adult blood bag, depending on the donor's eligibility and screening results. Eligibility is determined by factors including age, vital signs, weight, previous donation history, and Packed Cell Volume.
Donated blood undergoes laboratory screening for infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis, before being stored and made available to patients requiring transfusion. The organisation ensures that donors maintain an adequate diet and water intake to support their body after donation. Voluntary blood donation is considered an important humanitarian service.
Key points
- The Global Shapers Community, Kano Hub, collected 108 pints of blood during its 13th annual blood donation drive.
- The collected blood will support patients, including women experiencing complications during pregnancy and childbirth, accident victims, people living with anaemia, and children with blood-related conditions.
- The organisation aims to collect up to 200 pints in a single day with stronger partnerships and potentially expand beyond Kano State.
