By Roqib Akinyemi
Ahmadi Muslim Youth Organization (Majlis Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya), Lagos State has joined the Ministry of Health in the state to promote the campaign of voluntary blood donations at an event held on 10th February, 2021.
The event tagged “EACH 1 REACH 10” is an initiative of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service planned to serve as a voluntary blood donation chain campaign where every voluntary donor will advocate, mobilize and get another 10 donors.
The essence of the campaign was expressed by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Oshikomaiya supported by the Medical Director of a General Hospital, Dr. Ismail Ganikale, and other leading medical personnel in the state.
Dr. Oshikomaiya noted that this campaign is expected to increase voluntary blood donation drives in the State.
According to the medical director of Lagos State General Hospital, Dr. Ganikale, the LSBTS is working with the World Health Organization to improve access to blood transfusions and promote blood safety, focusing on four key areas which include: centrally coordinated blood transfusion service, collection of blood exclusively from voluntary donors from low-risk populations, testing of all blood for compatibility and transfusion-transmissible infections and reduction of unnecessary transfusion.
Several voluntary donors were present as groups and as individuals. The Majlis Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya, Lagos State was represented with 13 members among many other groups.
Like other donors’ groups, the Lagos State Ahmadi Youth President (Qaid), Bro. Roqib Akinyemi addressed the attendees on the need for blood donation to save lives while commenting on the statement of Hon. Commissioner for Health in Lagos, Prof. Akin Abayomi that Lagos State needs not less than 260,000 units of blood annually to meet the growing blood transfusion demands at health facilities in the state.
The Qaid said if we look at the statistics for the demand for blood against the available blood, we will see the need for every Lagosian who is fit to donate.
He also said this is part of what we take as responsibilities towards humanity as an individual youth and as a Muslim organization.
He encouraged every Nigerian who is fit and healthy to kindly donate blood voluntarily with a view to saving lives.
