By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

One thousand students of Osun State University and residents of Osogbo on Friday thronged Freedom Park to voluntarily donate blood with a view to enriching the national blood bank.

The event, a brainchild of Uniosun Sustainable Development Solution in collaboration with Osun State University Medical Students Association, was also supported by the National blood agency.

Students of the University as well as members of the public were free medical check up and blood screening before each volunteer donated their blood.

Speaking on the importance of the event tagged, ‘Osun Donates’, the convener and President Uniosun SDG sustainable solution, Motadegbe Adeyemi, said the objective is to ensure that adequate blood is available in the blood bank to save lives.

“Many patients in hospitals across the country lost their lives because of lack of blood to take care of them, hence, we decided to mobilize 1000 students and residents of the state to take part in the nobel idea to voluntarily donate blood.

“Presently, we have gotten to 374 pints, I am sure before the end of the day, we would get to the 1000 mark. The bloods donated at this event would be taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital blood bank and the National blood bank as well. I am very sure it would come handy when someone, somewhere is in need of it

“It would be ideal if government or philanthropic organisations support the idea with a view to making it a twice or thrice event in a year or at least an annual event”, he said

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Head, Donor Recruitment Section, National Blood Agency, Southwest, Abel Abu, said the population of Nigeria demands that the agency supports and mobilize people to take part in voluntary blood donation.

“We are here in Osogbo today, working with the Health and Medical student of UNIOSUN to raise 1,000 donors. We are here to ensure that 1,000 people donate 1,000 pints of blood. It not only to ensure blood collection, but to also set a record”, he said.

One of the donor, Doyin Ajayi disclosed that she is happy to donate her blood, saying, “I know this pint of blood I am donating would one day save someone’s life somewhere. I am happy to be part of this programme”.