NBM Deepens Humanitarian Drive, Donates Blood To UBTH

by Idahosa Musa

In a life-saving intervention aimed at giving critically ill patients a better chance of survival, the Benin Zone of the NBM of Africa Worldwide has donated blood to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin, Edo state, as part of its sustained humanitarian initiatives.

The exercise, which involved members of the organisation voluntarily donating blood, was aimed at replenishing the hospital’s blood bank and ensuring that patients requiring urgent transfusion have timely access to blood when every minute could mean the difference between life and death.

Speaking during the exercise on behalf of the National President of NBM of Africa Worldwide, Dr. Charles Chimezie, Ph.D., the Chairman of the Benin Zone, Comrade Desmond Izevbigie, said the initiative reflected the organisation’s belief that humanitarian service must be demonstrated through tangible actions capable of positively impacting lives.

Izevbigie said the NBM of Africa Worldwide had, over the years, undertaken various humanitarian initiatives across Nigeria and beyond, particularly in healthcare, welfare support, community development and other interventions aimed at alleviating human suffering.

He stressed that the organisation remained committed to responding meaningfully to the needs of vulnerable members of society while promoting initiatives that protect human dignity and improve the well-being of the people.

According to him, blood donation remains one of the most direct and practical ways of saving lives, as donated blood can provide an immediate lifeline to accident victims, surgical patients, women experiencing complications during childbirth and other patients whose survival depends on timely transfusion.

The NBM chairman therefore urged Nigerians, corporate organisations and community groups to embrace voluntary blood donation, noting that nobody could predict when a relative, friend, neighbour or even a stranger might need the blood another person had willingly donated.

“This humanitarian gesture is part of the vision and agenda of our revered National President, Dr. Chimezie, and it is in line with the constitutional obligations of the organisation,” he said.

Izevbigie commended the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, and the hospital’s management for what he described as their commendable efforts to revamp the institution and improve the quality of healthcare services delivered to the people.

He called for greater support for the hospital’s ongoing efforts, stressing that improved healthcare infrastructure and quality medical services would ultimately benefit not only the people of Edo State but Nigerians across the country.

“Given these commendable strides and their positive impact on the people, we deem it fit to support UBTH in sustaining and further advancing these improvements for the benefit of our people, Edo State and Nigeria at large,” he added.

The NBM chairman also commended the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his efforts in tackling cultism and related violence, as well as his administration’s drive for infrastructural development.

He equally praised the governor for what he described as his respect for the traditional institution, particularly the revered Benin Traditional Institution and His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.

Izevbigie called on individuals, corporate bodies and other organisations to support initiatives aimed at addressing social vices, strengthening community safety, promoting peaceful coexistence and advancing sustainable development in the state.

The Benin Zone reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian interventions that protect human dignity, save lives and alleviate suffering, stressing that beyond organisational identity and public recognition, the greatest reward for humanitarian service was the knowledge that an intervention could give someone another opportunity to live.

Responding on behalf of the UBTH Management, the Principal Medical Laboratory Scientist, Oboh Larry Osazee, commended the NBM of Africa for the gesture.

Osazee described the blood donation exercise as a significant humanitarian intervention, noting that it would help provide life-saving support to patients in need of blood transfusion.