The Smile Builders Initiative, an organisation for creating awareness and combatting non-communicable diseases conducted a blood donation drive in collaboration with UIMSA and other organisations on Saturday, 6th July, 2024. The 5th edition of the annual drive named “Donate-a-Pint project”, held concurrently at Alexander Brown Hall and UCH Blood Bank.
Speaking with UIMSA Press, Director of Operations at Smile Builders Initiative, Zaynab Aderohunmu said, “There were a lot of challenges in planning the blood donation drive, but drawing from the experience of previous team leads helped a lot. We also had a great team. It was a bit difficult to get donors because two drives held in UCH in the past month so a lot of people weren’t eligible, but thankfully we still had a good number of donors. I would like to appreciate all our donors and partners. I also want to encourage everyone to donate blood from time to time, and not just at these drives; you can walk into any blood bank and donate”.
One of the donors, Oghenemaro said, “This is the third time I’m donating blood. Think of it like saving people’s lives. You might not have money to help, but you have more than enough blood, and just a pint can save several lives since the blood will be separated into different components. There might be a few side effects but they’re quite negligible. I will definitely continue to donate blood in future”.
At the end of the drive, about 60 pints of blood were donated. In addition to UIMSA, other organisations that partnered with the Smile Builders Initiative are: NIMSA Public Health and Advocacy Group, FAMSA Headquarters, Alexander Brown Hall, UCH Blood Bank, School of Nursing UCH, Rotaract Club of UCH, and One Voice Initiative for Women and Children Emancipation.
Recall that World Blood Donor Day held on the 14th of June. According to the WHO, only 27% of people who need blood in Nigeria get it, underscoring the need for more blood donors.
Aisha Ibrahim
