Officials of the Ilesa Unit of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Osun have donated blood to Wesley Guild Hospital in the community.
Speaking at the occasion on Wednesday, Mr Samuel Oyedeji, the Ilesa Unit Commander of FRSC, said the blood donation initiative was to mark the 30th anniversary of the FRSC.
He said that the gesture was also to contribute to improvement in healthcare delivery and reduction in the death rate occasioned by shortage of blood to accident victims in hospitals.
“In 2017 alone, about 149 accident victims were injured in road traffic crashes in which 31 died on the spot, leaving 59 injured who later gave up the ghost in the hospitals.
“We are committed to saving lives and properties, this made us to organise the event to mark the occasion so as to reduce the rate of death through shortage of blood, ’’ he said
In his address, Dr Olowookere Akintunde, the Consultant Family Physicians & HOD, Accident & Emergency, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, lauded the organisers of the programme.
Akintunde lamented that scores of accident victims lose their lives in hospitals through shortage of blood during road crashes.
“Many lives would have been saved if individuals, NGOs, philanthropists and stakeholders can emulate FRSC in blood donation to save as many lives as possible,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Samson Elujoba, the Assistant Director, Medical Laboratory Services, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, commended the FRSC unit for the gesture.
“There can never be a time where there will be enough blood in hospitals. People should voluntarily donate blood to hospitals for patients.
“Nigerians should see themselves as one and take the issue of saving lives as paramount whenever they see accidents on the roads,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FRSC was established on Feb. 18, 1988. (NAN)
