INAUGURAL LECTURE | BLOOD IS HEALTH: OUR BLOOD MIRRORS OUR BEING | LATEEF SALAWU

Prof. Lateef Salawu

Blood Is Health: Our Blood Mirrors Our Being

On June 24, 2025, Professor Lateef Salawu, a distinguished and renowned scholar in Haematology and Immunology, delivered the 400th inaugural lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Titled “Blood is Health: Our Blood Mirrors Our Being,” the lecture was not only a celebration of academic excellence but a profound exploration of blood as both a biological substance and a symbolic reflection of human vitality, identity, and health.

·     A Landmark and Transformative Lecture

Blood: The Mirror and the Message

Professor Salawu described blood as a living archive, a fluid that carries genetic information, immune responses, and cultural meaning. He detailed the roles of red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, emphasizing their diagnostic, forensic, and therapeutic significance.

Academic Contributions

The lecture highlighted decades of research, including:

• Autoimmune Disorders: Studies on ITP and AIHA confirmed their rarity in African populations, with gender-specific patterns and treatment outcomes.
• Lupus Anticoagulants: Found in HIV/AIDS patients but with minimal clinical impact, reinforcing the low prevalence of autoimmune conditions in indigenous Africans.
• Diagnostic Immunology: Use of biomarkers like CD markers and immunoglobulins to diagnose infections, malignancies, and immune deficiencies.
• Sickle Cell Disease: Research on immune dysfunction and infection susceptibility, especially osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Reactions from Notable Figures

Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire

Vice-Chancellor, OAU

“This lecture is not just a celebration of scholarship—it is a mirror held up to the soul of medicine.”

Dr. Anthony Oyekunle

Consultant Haematologist, New Zealand

“A masterclass in merging clinical insight with academic rigor.”

Professor Fatiu Arogundade

Registrar, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria

“His findings on autoimmune rarity are vital for global epidemiology.”

Institutional and Media Endorsements

• OAU: Celebrated the lecture as the first from the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences.
• OAUTHC: Acknowledged Prof. Salawu’s clinical leadership and research excellence.
• Media Outlets: Described the lecture as “a compelling exploration of blood’s centrality in life and medicine.”

Broader Perspectives to Enrich the Dialogue

Public Health Policy Makers

• Need: Scale blood diagnostics for underserved populations.
• Impact: Early detection and preventive care integration.

Bioethicists & Sociologists

• Focus: Cultural and ethical dimensions of blood.
• Impact: Informed consent, privacy, and community engagement.

Technology Experts

• Focus: AI and digital diagnostics.
• Impact: Enhanced precision and accessibility in blood analysis.

Global Health Organizations

• Focus: Epidemiological insights from African populations.
• Impact: Improved disease modeling and vaccine strategies.

Environmental Health Advocates

• Focus: Toxins and autoimmune risk.
• Impact: Policy for PPE use and toxin exposure reduction.

Mental Health Professionals

• Focus: Psychological impact of chronic blood disorders.
• Impact: Holistic care models for conditions like SCD.

Faith-Based Leaders

• Focus: Spiritual symbolism of blood.
• Impact: Community trust in blood-related health interventions.

Public Health Influence

The lecture has already begun shaping public health practices by:

• Promoting preventive care through routine blood analysis.
• Enhancing clinical awareness of autoimmune disorders.
• Encouraging integration of immuno-haematology in diagnostics.
• Informing policy and curriculum development in medical education.

Final Reflection

Professor Salawu’s lecture transcended the boundaries of science. It was a call to view blood not just as a fluid, but as a living mirror of health, history, and humanity. His work continues to inspire students, clinicians, and policymakers to see medicine as both a science and a story.