Title: Nigerian Student Dies During Plasma Donation in Canada, Health Officials Investigate Date Published: 14 March 2026 Description: Health Canada is investigating the deaths of two plasma donors at for-profit clinics in Winnipeg, Manitoba, including a 22-year-old Nigerian international student, following fatal reactions during donation procedures.The incidents occurred at facilities operated by Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company that runs 17 clinics across Canada, including two in Winnipeg. Health Canada confirmed it received mandatory reports from the clinics after the deaths in October 2025 and January 2026, just over three months apart, and has dispatched inspectors to both locations.Friends have identified one of the deceased as Rodiyat Alabede, a Nigerian international student from a family with roots in Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Alabede was studying social work and was active in Winnipeg’s Muslim Nigerian community. The identity of the second donor has not been disclosed, with privacy laws cited by both the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Health Canada.Stephanie Holfeld, Executive Director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, told The New York Times that Alabede became unresponsive during the plasma donation and died shortly afterward. Holfeld noted that the death has not yet been formally linked to the donation, and investigations are ongoing.Chioma Ijoma, a friend, described Alabede as “protective and sweet” with a motherly nature, adding, “She never gave up, even when things got difficult for her.”In response, Grifols issued a statement expressing condolences to the families and said, “We have no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation.” The company emphasized that donors undergo extensive health evaluations before participating and reported both incidents within the required 72-hour window, while launching an internal investigation.Plasma donation involves drawing blood, separating plasma from red blood cells, and returning the red blood cells to the donor. In Canada and the United States, the practice is often used by students and low-income earners to supplement income. Grifols advertises that regular donors can earn up to 6,000 Canadian dollars per year, roughly equivalent to 7.2 million naira. Attached Images: b31b7129f212d57458e267e089b9cace72be2c08860932b91210d00f1871a27b.webp Attached Video: None