< img src="https://edugist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG-20260314-WA0011.jpg"alt =""> A 22-year-old Nigerian international student and another donor have actually passed away after offering plasma at a for-profit collection centre in Winnipeg, Canada, triggering an evaluation by health authorities.
Health Canada verified it got two reports of deadly negative responses involving plasma donors at centers operated by Grifols in Winnipeg. The deaths supposedly occurred in October 2025 and January 30, 2026.
One of the victims, Rodiyat Alabede, a Nigerian trainee studying at the University of Winnipeg, passed away on October 25, 2025, after going to a visit at the Grifols Plasma Contribution Centre to donate plasma.
Alabede had actually transferred from Nigeria to Winnipeg in 2022 with the ambition of becoming a social employee.
Her friend, Mary Ann Chika, explained her as a joyful and ambitious girl whose life was interrupted suddenly.
“She was constantly pleased. She had numerous dreams, specifically when she concerned Canada. She held a huge location in my heart,” Chika said.
Chika discussed that she was not present throughout the contribution but later on recognized her buddy at the healthcare facility after she had actually been pronounced dead.
According to her, doctors informed her that Alabede’s heart stopped while she was contributing plasma at the centre.
“And before she reached the health center, she had already passed,” she said.
Health Canada revealed that a second deadly negative response was reported on January 30, 2026, following another plasma donation at Grifols Plasma Contribution Centre.
The federal regulator said investigations are continuous which it has actually not yet developed a direct link in between the plasma donations and the deaths.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Grifols stated the business had conducted an internal review.
“Based on the information offered at this time, we have no factor to believe that there is a connection in between the donors’ passing and plasma contribution,” the spokesperson said.
The company operates plasma donation centres where donors receive monetary payment. According to its site, donors can get payments of as much as $100 per contribution, along with additional rewards such as bonus offers for regular contributions.
Health Canada stated it continues to assess the reported incidents as part of its continuous safety tracking of plasma collection activities in the country.