Nigerian Student Dies After Plasma Donation at Canadian Clinic

A 22-year-old Nigerian international student, Rodiyat Alabede, has died after donating plasma at a clinic in Winnipeg, prompting an investigation by Health Canada.

According to a report by The New York Times, the federal health agency confirmed it is examining the deaths of two plasma donors at for-profit clinics in Winnipeg following fatal adverse reactions recorded in October 2025 and January 2026.

The clinics involved are operated by Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company that runs 17 plasma donation centres across Canada, including two in Winnipeg. Health Canada said it received mandatory reports from the facilities and subsequently sent inspectors to both locations to investigate the incidents.

Friends of the late student identified one of the deceased as Alabede, whose parents are from Nigeria and Ivory Coast. She was studying to become a social worker and was said to be active in the Muslim Nigerian community in Winnipeg.

The identity of the second donor has not been disclosed due to privacy laws.

Executive Director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, Stephanie Holfeld, said Alabede became unresponsive during the plasma donation procedure and died shortly afterwards. However, she noted that the death has not yet been formally linked to the donation process as investigations are still ongoing.

“She had a motherly side to her, she was protective and sweet. She never gave up, even when things got difficult for her,” a friend, Chioma Ijoma, said in tribute.

In a statement, Grifols expressed condolences to the families of the deceased donors but stated that there was currently no evidence linking the deaths directly to plasma donation.

The company added that donors undergo extensive health screening before being approved and confirmed that both incidents were reported within the required 72-hour window. It also said an internal investigation had been launched.

Plasma donation involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma, and returning the red blood cells to the body. The practice is common in Canada and the United States, where many students and low-income earners donate plasma to supplement their income.

Grifols advertises that regular donors can earn up to 6,000 Canadian dollars annually, equivalent to about $4,400 or roughly ₦7.2 million.