NYSC joins drive for blood donation as Blood Commission signs pact »

Efforts to increase the availability of blood in hospitals for Nigerians in need of it got a heightened boost as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) enters a partnership that will ensure members of the National Youth Corp are integrated into the culture of voluntary blood donation.

This development considered as novel was reached recently in Abuja when the Director-General of the NYSC Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim signed a collaborative pact with the Director-General of the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), Dr Omale Joseph Amedu on behalf of the two organisations.

The pact was entered to instil in the corps members the culture of donating blood voluntarily, this move the NBSC described as one of the most effective ways of ensuring the availability of blood for Nigerians in need of it.

“With these crops of corp members championing the cause of voluntary blood donation, adequate and safe blood becomes handy to hospitals with everyone in need having access to blood whether general hospitals or primary health centres”, the Commission said.

The Director-General of the National Blood Service Commission stressed the role of the NYSC in helping to address the gap in the blood needs in Nigeria. “This partnership will play a huge role in the blood service as the NYSC will serve as that awareness platform where corps members are educated on the need for blood donation and its attendant benefits, this move will bridge the gap between available blood and those who need it, he stressed.

On his part, the Director of the National Youth Service Corp, pledged the corps’ commitment to the implementation of the partnership as the NYSC he said are ever ready to provide services that will address any health needs in Nigeria.

The National Blood Service Commission is the body saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and regulating all blood-related services in Nigeria and ensuring that blood are adequate and safe for Nigerians in need of it.

Compiled by Haruna Abdullahi,
Head, Media and Publicity