Tragedy Strikes: Nigerian Student, Another Die After Paid Plasma Donation in Canada

Two individuals, including 22-year-old Nigerian international student Rodiyat Alabede, died following plasma donations at for-profit Grifols centers in Winnipeg, Manitoba, prompting a federal investigation by Health Canada. The incidents occurred on October 25, 2025, at the Taylor Avenue location and January 30, 2026, at the Innovation Drive site, with reports of fatal adverse reactions submitted to regulators. Grifols, a Spanish company operating over a dozen Canadian plasma collection centers, pays donors up to $100 per session plus bonuses for frequent donations, such as $50 every 10 donations within six weeks.

Victim’s Background and Heartbreak

Rodiyat Alabede, originally from Nigeria, arrived in Winnipeg in 2022 to study at the University of Winnipeg, aspiring to become a social worker focused on helping people with disabilities. Friends described her as perpetually happy with big dreams for her future in Canada. Close friend Mary Ann Chika identified Alabede’s body at St. Boniface Hospital after doctors reported her heart stopped during the donation process; she had passed before reaching medical care. Details on the second victim remain private due to regulations, but both cases involved donors becoming unresponsive post-donation.

Health Canada confirmed receiving the adverse reaction reports and dispatched inspectors to Grifols sites, but no causal link to plasma collection has been established yet. A Grifols spokesperson stated an internal review found “no reason to believe” the deaths connect to donations, emphasizing pre-donation health screenings including questionnaires, physical exams, age (17-68), weight (50-180 kg), and recent meal requirements. Following scrutiny, Grifols updated policies on March 9, 2026, mandating at least 48 hours between donations after Health Canada flagged violations of prior two-day minimums.

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These fatalities mark the fourth and fifth plasma-related deaths in Canada over the past decade, with three in Manitoba alone, raising alarms about paid donation practices. Grifols, which entered Winnipeg in 2022 by acquiring local operations, prioritizes donor safety but faces questions amid the probe. Nigerians online and Alabede’s loved ones mourn deeply, with calls for transparency as assessments continue. May their souls rest in peace.