Red Cross seeks more blood donors for Boko Haram victims

The Nigeria Red Cross in Yobe has embarked on sensitisation campaign to raise 100 new blood donors as part of a medical recovery programme for post-Boko Haram insurgency, Mr Zabu Buba, said.

Buba, who is Branch Secretary and State Officer of the group in charge of Yobe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Damaturu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said the sensitisation program was aimed at raising awareness among the people and the returnee communities to volunteer to donate blood to save lives of their compatriots.

He said the destruction of health institutions, economic base, and means of livelihood of the people had compounded challenges faced by the returnee communities.

“As you are aware, we celebrated the Red Cross Day on May 8, creating awareness on the importance of blood donation to save lives.

“We paid special attention to the returnee communities because of the peculiar challenges and the trauma they had suffered in the past few years,” he said.

Buba said the Red Cross had also mapped out strategies for the campaign against Meningitis, Measles, and Scabies in 10 returnee communities in Gujba and Gulani local government areas.

“This include Katarko, Gujba, Buni-Yadi, Buni-Gari, Bara, Bularafa, Bumsa, Gulani, Goniri and Ngirbuwa,” he said.

The secretary assured that the Red Cross would continue to contribute to the resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation process of Internally Displaced Persons in the state.

[NAN]