ABSTRACT
Background:The increased need of safe blood and blood products and their unavailability in hospitals remain a formidable challenge faced by healthcare providers in developing countries such as Nigeria.Aim: To determine the level of awareness of blood donation among tertiary institution undergraduates in an urban setting of Southern Nigeria. Methodology: Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from undergraduates of the University of Benin and Delta State University both in southern Nigeria. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 16. Results: A total of 396 people were surveyed. Of these; 370 (93.4) were aware that blood can be donated; while 172 (43.4) were aware of the WHO policy on blood donation. Three hundred and forty-one (86.1) were aware that blood donation should be nationally coordinated while 306(77.3) did not agree that medical workers have created enough awareness on blood donation. Two hundred and twenty-two (56.1) were aware that blood donation should be voluntary and 209(52.8) were willing to donate blood if there is an attached financial reward. Conclusion:This study has revealed a high level of awareness on blood donation among tertiary institution undergraduates in Southern Nigeria and have demonstrated a poor level of awareness of the WHO policy on blood donation
Subject(s)
Awareness , Blood Donors , StudentsABSTRACT
This is a report of multiple myeloma in first cousins from the Niger delta region of Nigeria.The first patient was a 60-year-old Negroid male with a 3-month history of productive cough; chest pain; fever and 1 month history of weight loss. The diagnosis was confirmed by greater than 50neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow; monoclonal band on electrophoresis and lytic bone lesions in the skull. He was treated with cyclophosphamide; prednisolone and allopurinol and received a total of 4 pints of packed cells. His PCV improved subsequently.The second patient was a 54-year-old Negroid housewife. She presented with a six-month history of bone pains and weakness in both lower limbs. She also had cough productive of mucoid sputum. The diagnosis of MM was confirmed by the presence of more than 30neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow; a monoclonal band on serum electrophoresis and lytic lesions in the pelvic bones on skeletal survey. She had three 28-day cycles of vincristine; adriamycin and dexamethasone (VAD). She was also transfused with 3 pints of packed cells. We conclude that while we cannot rule out the effect of environmental factors in pathogenesis of MM in our patients; the occurrence of MM in first cousins is suggestive of a possible familial origin. We advocate screening of urine for Bence Jones protein and serum electrophoresis for relatives of patients with MM; especially those from the Niger Delta region
Subject(s)
Multiple Myeloma/diagnosis , Multiple Myeloma/therapyABSTRACT
This is a report of multiple myeloma in first cousins from the Niger delta region of Nigeria.The first patient was a 60-year-old Negroid male with a 3-month history of productive cough; chest pain; fever and 1 month history of weight loss. The diagnosis was confirmed by greater than 50neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow; monoclonal band on electrophoresis and lytic bone lesions in the skull. He was treated with cyclophosphamide; prednisolone and allopurinol and received a total of 4 pints of packed cells. His PCV improved subsequently.The second patient was a 54-year-old Negroid housewife. She presented with a six-month history of bone pains and weakness in both lower limbs. She also had cough productive of mucoid sputum. The diagnosis of MM was confirmed by the presence of more than 30neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow; a monoclonal band on serum electrophoresis and lytic lesions in the pelvic bones on skeletal survey. She had three 28-day cycles of vincristine; adriamycin and dexamethasone (VAD). She was also transfused with 3 pints of packed cells. We conclude that while we cannot rule out the effect of environmental factors in pathogenesis of MM in our patients; the occurrence of MM in first cousins is suggestive of a possible familial origin. We advocate screening of urine for Bence Jones protein and serum electrophoresis for relatives of patients with MM; especially those from the Niger Delta region