The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos State Branch, has launched a blood drive as part of the organization’s efforts to collect 2,000 pints of blood by 2023.
During the blood drive on Saturday in Lagos, the branch secretary, Mr. Olakunle Lasisi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that each pint of blood donated could save about three lives.
NRCS, Lagos Branch Youth Wing, NYSC CDS, Aspira Nigeria Ltd., and the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service worked together to organise the event (LSBTS).
The event was tagged, ‘Valentine Fiesta and Voluntary Blood Donation Drive’ with the theme: Give Blood, Save Lives.
Lasisi said the Red Cross chose to raise blood because it was a humanitarian act targeted at supporting the unknown and less privileged in the society.
He said the branch had an average of four drives annually with the objective of ensuring there was enough blood in the blood banks.
He said the blood drives were held during the Valentine season; May, to celebrate Red Cross Day; in August, at the annual Youth Camp and another in December.
Lasisi said the branch partnered with the LSBTS because it had sophisticated equipment and management in ensuring that the blood donations were successful.
“We promised in the past to give as much as 1,000 pints of blood but we’ve superseded it.
“This year we’re looking at getting 2,000 pints of blood and we can do more because we’ve adopted a new strategy we’re going to use,” he said.
Lasisi said the branch would work with foundations, non-governmental and corporate organisations that indicated interest to achieve its objectives.
He urged more corporate organisations to partner with the Red Cross, to ensure that more lives were saved through voluntary blood donation.
The Commandant of Red Cross, NYSC CDS, Oluwafikemi Adebayo, told NAN that the corps members and non-members of NRCS decided to voluntarily donate blood as part of their service to humanity.
“We want to help save as many lives as possible, particularly this period when there are lots of accidents,” she said. (NAN)
