Canada Probes Fatal Plasma Donation Sessions Involving Nigerian Student,
Canada’s federal health authority, Health Canada, has launched an investigation into the deaths of two plasma donors at private clinics in Winnipeg, Manitoba, including a 22-year-old Nigerian international student, according to a report by The New York Times on Friday.
The agency confirmed it received mandatory incident reports from the clinics after fatal adverse reactions following donation procedures carried out in October 2025 and January 2026, barely three months apart. The facilities are operated by Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company that runs 17 plasma collection clinics across Canada, two of which are located in Winnipeg.
Health Canada said inspectors were subsequently dispatched to both clinics as part of the investigation.
Friends identified one of the deceased as Rodiyat Alabede, a Nigerian international student whose parents are from Nigeria and Ivory Coast. The 22-year-old was studying to become a social worker and was active in the Nigerian Muslim community in Winnipeg. The identity of the second donor has not been made public, with authorities citing privacy laws.
Stephanie Holfeld, Executive Director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, told the newspaper that Alabede became unresponsive during the plasma donation procedure and died shortly afterwards. However, she noted that investigators have not yet formally linked the death to the plasma donation, adding that “certain investigative steps may still be in progress.” A friend, Chioma Ijoma, described Alabede as caring and resilient. “She had a motherly side to her, she was protective and sweet. She never gave up, even when things got difficult for her,” she said.
In a statement, Grifols expressed condolences to the families of the deceased but said it had “no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation.”
The company added that donors undergo comprehensive health screenings before being cleared to donate, and that both incidents were reported within the mandatory 72-hour window. It also confirmed that an internal investigation has been launched.
Plasma donation involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma, and returning the remaining red blood cells to the body. The practice is common in Canada and the United States, where students and low-income earners often participate to supplement their income. Grifols advertises that regular donors can earn about 6,000 Canadian dollars annually — roughly 4,400 US dollars or about ₦7.2 million.
