World Blood Donor Day: FRSC, NBTS Urge Nigerians to Donate Blood Freely

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the National Coordinator of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Oluwatomi Smith, yesterday called on Nigerians to voluntarily and freely donate their blood to save lives.

The duo made the disclosure at FRSC’s monthly jogging exercise in collaboration with ongoing National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) campaign for free blood donation to mark the 2016 World Blood Donor Day, in Abuja.

The FRSC boss hinted that blood donated blood could be used on any patient that is in critical need of it, including victims of road traffic crashes. He particularly, urged staff members of the FRSC to come out and identify with the good cause by donating their blood to save lives.

He said: “What the National Blood Transfusion Service is doing complements what the FRSC does on the road by saving lives of the road users. We must, therefore, support them by encouraging blood donation not only by our own staff, but other stakeholders and members of the public.”

The Corps Marshal further stressed that in demonstrating FRSC’s commitment to the success of the partnership initiative, the June edition of the walking/jogging exercise was dedicated to the 2016 World Blood Donor Day organised worldwide by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to Oyeyemi, the collaboration was also to raise public awareness on the importance of blood donation and need for members of the public to show commitment to saving lives of those that might be in need of blood at critical times, adding: “You must all therefore, show sincere commitment to donating your blood to save lives.”
He enjoined them not to limit physical fitness exercise only to the monthly walking /jogging programme, but making it a regular practice to keep sickness and diseases away.

In a remark, Smith, who was represented by the Coordinator, NBTS, Abuja Centre, Dr. Omo Izedonmwen, while commending FRSC for the partnership initiative between the service and the FRSC, said government will soon set up a facility will soon be setup to make it possible for willing donors to donate blood with easiness.

The national coordinator, described as worrisome, a situation where report indicates that 150 women worldwide die every day from health complications, with 27 per cent of them dying from blood related cases. This, he said, makes it imperative that public spirited individuals join hands to reduce the trend through free donation of blood.
Nollywood Actor, Kanayo O Kanayo, who graced the occasion, commended FRSC for the commitment it has shown not only to safety of road users, but physical well-being of its staff members.

He noted that the monthly walking/jogging exercise is an evidence of the care the leadership has for the people. He called on other security agencies to emulate the FRSC example by organising similar exercise, saying it promotes good health, sociability and public awareness especially, on some topical national issues.
Kanayo called on members of the public to generously donate their blood to save lives, adding that he was delighted at the invitation to be part of the worthy cause.