This call was made by the organisation over the weekend during a day’s sensitisation on the importance of Gambians to develop a voluntary habit of walking to any hospital to donate blood. Ismaila Jobe of Fong4life exclusively told The Standard on the sidelines of the sensitisation forum at MDI campus in Kanifing: “We are always passionate to donate blood because we think the amount of people that die as a result of lack of blood is at an alarming rate. So we are embarking on this sensitisation for people to come and donate blood so that we can save the lives of many. We think that the National Blood Transfusion Services cannot do it alone, that’s why we came in to help in the crusade by creating more awareness for people to come and donate blood. The blood donated will be given to the Serekunda General Hospital to be re-distributed to other hospitals in order to reduce the rate of maternity mortality.”
Jobe said they have noticed a shortage in blood supply in hospitals and with the escalating cases of road accidents, they saw it fitting to organise the forum where people were asked to voluntarily donate blood. He stated that his organisation has decided that every year, there will be quarterly blood drive to get more people donate blood and to sensitise them about what donating blood does and how it might save a life.
“Before someone donates blood, we do check the blood group and the blood pressure in other to know whether that particular person is fit to donate blood or not. We started this for two years now and we are partnering with Nda Mariam Njie Foundation and the National Blood Transfusion Services because it is a national responsibility. I am urging everyone to come out and donate blood, because the life you save might be yours.”
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