- NYSC members in Epe voluntarily donated blood at FMC Epe as part of their Community Development Service (CDS), reinforcing the spirit of selfless service and humanitarian intervention.
- FMC Epe management commended the initiative, describing voluntary blood donation as vital to saving lives during emergencies, surgeries, childbirth and other critical medical situations.
- Medical experts and NYSC officials urged Nigerians to embrace regular blood donation, noting that one unit of blood can save up to three lives while helping to maintain a healthy blood supply.
The spirit of selfless service and national unity came alive at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Epe, on Friday as members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Epe Local Government embarked on a large-scale voluntary blood donation exercise during the hospital’s 2026 Blood Donation Week.
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Eko Hot Blog reports that the initiative, which formed part of the corps members’ Community Development Service (CDS) activities, attracted dozens of young volunteers who willingly donated blood to support the hospital’s blood bank and help save the lives of patients requiring emergency transfusions.
Clad in their NYSC uniforms, the corps members arrived at the medical centre in the early hours of the day and participated in a sensitisation walk around the hospital premises. Carrying messages promoting voluntary blood donation, they encouraged residents, patients’ relatives and visitors to embrace the culture of donating blood regularly, describing it as one of the greatest humanitarian services anyone can render.
The exercise transformed the hospital environment into a centre of awareness, compassion and hope, as many visitors stopped to observe the campaign while others made enquiries about becoming future blood donors.
Receiving the corps members on behalf of the Medical Director of FMC Epe, Dr. Adeleke Kaka, the Head of Clinical Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Babatunde, expressed profound appreciation for the gesture, describing it as an act capable of giving many patients a second chance at life.
She explained that hospitals rely heavily on voluntary blood donors because blood remains an irreplaceable medical resource that cannot be manufactured in laboratories or purchased from factories.
According to her, emergency situations such as road traffic accidents, complicated childbirth, surgical procedures, severe anaemia, cancer treatment and sickle cell crises frequently require immediate access to compatible blood.
She noted that whenever blood is unavailable, lives are placed at serious risk, stressing that voluntary donors remain the backbone of every functional blood bank.
Dr. Babatunde commended the NYSC members for choosing a project that directly addresses one of the most critical healthcare needs in society.
She described the donation as a priceless gift that would benefit countless individuals, many of whom the donors may never meet.
“The greatest gift anyone can give is the gift of life. Today, these young men and women have demonstrated that true national service goes beyond wearing the NYSC uniform; it is about making sacrifices that positively impact humanity,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the corps members, the NYSC President in Epe Local Government, Dr. Aminat A., revealed that members deliberately chose blood donation as their major community project after considering several developmental initiatives.
She explained that while physical projects remain important, the corps members concluded that preserving human life would create an even greater and more enduring impact within the community.
According to her, many communities have buildings and monuments, but countless patients continue to lose their lives because of inadequate blood supply in hospitals.
“Our decision was driven by compassion. We wanted to undertake a project that people would continue to benefit from long after our service year has ended. Every pint of blood donated today represents hope for someone battling a medical emergency,” she said.
She urged Nigerians, especially young and healthy individuals, to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation, noting that the country’s annual demand for safe blood remains far higher than the available supply.
Also speaking, Pharmacist God’s Power I., a corps member serving at FMC Epe, used the opportunity to educate participants on the importance of regular blood donation.
He explained that each unit of donated blood is processed into different components—including red blood cells, plasma and platelets—which can be used to treat different categories of patients.
According to him, one donor has the potential to save up to three lives through a single donation.
He also dismissed the misconception that hospitals sell donated blood, clarifying that patients only pay for laboratory investigations, screening and compatibility testing before transfusion.
“The blood itself is freely donated by members of the public. What hospitals charge covers the scientific processes required to ensure that the blood is safe and compatible with the recipient,” he explained.
Speaking further, he highlighted the health benefits associated with voluntary blood donation, including improved blood circulation, reduced iron overload, stimulation of fresh blood cell production and overall cardiovascular health.
The NYSC Local Government Inspector for Epe, Mr. Julius Clement, praised the corps members for demonstrating exceptional leadership and compassion through the initiative.
He described the exercise as one of the most impactful community development projects undertaken by corps members in recent years, noting that the decision to save lives rather than execute conventional physical projects reflected maturity, responsibility and genuine concern for society.
He encouraged other organisations, corporate bodies, religious institutions and community associations to emulate the initiative by organising regular voluntary blood donation campaigns.
According to him, sustained public participation remains the only effective way to eliminate blood shortages in hospitals across the country.
Also addressing journalists, the General Secretary of the FMC Epe Blood Donation Week Committee, Mrs. Oluyeba Motunrayo Yetunde, applauded the overwhelming support received from the NYSC members.
She noted that voluntary blood donors remain indispensable partners in healthcare delivery, especially during emergencies when immediate transfusion becomes the difference between life and death.
She appealed to residents of Epe Division and neighbouring communities to become regular blood donors, stressing that no one knows when a family member, friend or even the donor may require blood.
The week-long Blood Donation Campaign at FMC Epe, themed “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Life,” is designed to boost the hospital’s blood reserve while promoting awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation.
As the exercise continued, medical personnel attended to donors under strict safety procedures, ensuring proper health screening before and after donation.
The remarkable participation of the NYSC members not only strengthened the hospital’s blood bank but also reaffirmed the true essence of the National Youth Service Corps—promoting national unity, community development and selfless service through meaningful contributions that improve the lives of others.
For many beneficiaries whose lives will be saved through the donated blood, the corps members’ gesture will stand as a lasting reminder that humanity is at its best when people willingly give a part of themselves to save another.
