The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Edo State, in collaboration with the Florish Foundation for Women and Youths, mobilized a large number of corps members on Friday for a voluntary blood donation exercise in Benin City.
The initiative, hosted at the Military Hospital, was organized to mark World Blood Donor Day and aimed at supporting sickle cell patients while strengthening emergency medical care across the state.
According to reports, nearly 100 corps members participated in the drive, joined by medical partners including the National Blood Service Agency and Bright Path Development Hub.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, Edo State NYSC Coordinator, emphasized the urgent need for safe blood supplies, particularly for individuals living with sickle cell disorder.
Represented by Mrs. Funmilayo Oluwatoyin, Assistant Director of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme, Ben-Ushie described the exercise as both a humanitarian gesture and an extension of national service.
“Access to safe blood is a matter of life and survival for many warriors,” she said. “This drive is not just a health intervention but an act of compassion and humanity. Our corps members have once again demonstrated that service to humanity is the foundation of the NYSC.”
The coordinator expressed gratitude to partner organizations, calling their collaboration “a noble contribution to saving lives.”
Brigadier-General Paulina Aburime, Commander of the Military Hospital, commended the corps members and organizers, stressing the importance of raising public awareness about blood donation.
“Pregnant women lose their lives because blood is unavailable. The same happens during emergency surgeries. Blood donation is something we must continue to encourage,” she noted.
Omotayo Adesuyi, representing Ben-Ushie in her role as founder of the Florish Foundation, highlighted the life-saving impact of voluntary blood donation.
“Each pint of blood collected could mean the difference between life and death for a child with sickle cell disorder, a mother in childbirth, or an accident victim. Every donor here today is a quiet hero,” she said.
Dr. Ikejiofor Prudence, serving at the Military Hospital and initiator of the idea, explained that the exercise was borne out of the critical need for timely blood supply.
“When a patient urgently needs a transfusion and blood is unavailable, even the most skilled doctor can do very little. In those moments, the true lifesaver is the person who donates blood,” she remarked.
The event underscored the importance of voluntary blood donation as a sustainable solution to medical emergencies, while also showcasing the NYSC’s continued role in humanitarian service and community development.
