Health Canada probes plasma donor deaths after two fatalities, including a Nigerian student, at Winnipeg clinics operated by Grifols

The federal health department of the Canada, Health Canada, is investigating the deaths of two plasma donors at private clinics in Winnipeg, including Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old Nigerian international student, following fatal medical incidents reported months apart at facilities operated by Grifols.

Also read: Nigerian Passengers Demand Refunds After Airline Disruptions

The investigation follows mandatory reports submitted to federal authorities after two donors suffered fatal adverse reactions during procedures in October 2025 and January 2026.

Both incidents occurred at clinics run by Grifols in Winnipeg, located in the province of Manitoba.

Health Canada confirmed it dispatched inspectors to the facilities after receiving the reports, which are required within 72 hours when serious medical incidents occur during plasma collection procedures.

According to reporting by The New York Times, friends identified one of the deceased donors as Alabede, a student whose parents are from Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

The young woman had been training to become a social worker and was actively involved in the Muslim Nigerian community in Winnipeg.

Authorities have not publicly identified the second donor. Officials from the provincial examiner’s office and Health Canada said privacy laws prevent the disclosure of additional personal details.

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.

Holfeld emphasised that investigators have not formally linked the death to the donation process and that further examinations remain ongoing.

“She had a motherly side to her, she was protective and sweet. She never gave up, even when things got difficult for her,” said Chioma Ijoma, a friend who paid tribute to the student’s character and resilience.

Grifols expressed condolences to the families affected by the deaths but said there was currently no evidence connecting the fatalities directly to plasma donation.

In a statement, the company said, “We have no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation.”

The healthcare company added that donors undergo extensive medical screening before being approved and confirmed that both incidents were reported to regulators within the required timeframe. Grifols also said it had launched an internal review of the cases.

Plasma donation involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma from red blood cells, and returning the red cells to the body.

The plasma collected is used to manufacture therapies for patients with immune disorders and other serious conditions.

In Canada and the United States, plasma donation has increasingly become a source of supplementary income for students and low-income earners.

Grifols advertises that regular donors may earn up to 6,000 Canadian dollars annually, equivalent to about 4,400 US dollars or roughly 7.2 million Nigerian naira.

Also read: Indian Court Jails Nigerian Man 20 Years for Drug Trafficking

Health authorities said the investigation will determine whether the deaths were related to the medical procedures or other underlying factors.