Guardian

PEEVED  by the high level of maternal mortality rate in the region, Ugochukwu Chioma, a Batch C corps member currently undergoing her primary assignment at the Dutse General Hospital, has mobilised 68 corps members to save the lives of pregnant women by submitting themselves to blood donation.

This is coming on the heels of repeated blood scarcity at the hospital’s blood bank, especially for women in the labour room in need of blood transfusion. Often times, the available blood does not match the patient’s blood group, while failure to cross match properly during emergency has its inherent consequences.

This was what led Chioma to convince her colleagues to screen for blood donation. According to her, “I cannot afford to stay aloof and watch women suffer from blood loss during child birth or worse still, death because someday, I will be a mother and it is what you wish other people irrespective of tribe and religion that you wish yourself.”

One of the volunteers, Ufomba Ikechukwu, a graduate of Electrical Electronics Engineering from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, said the gesture is a way of saving the lives of other people and adding value to humanity. “I see this action as a duty to my country by being my brothers’ keeper.”

Ikechuwku, who hails from Abia State and is serving with Government Secondary School Kuho in Dutse, said he has felt at home since arriving in the state. He added that if he gets a good job after his service year, he would remain in Jigawa.

Another volunteer, Onyinye Gift, who studied Environmental Resources Management from Abia State University, said she was not scared to subject herself to HIV/AIDS test before her blood could be screened. “It is better for everyone to know his or her status. If you don’t find out when you should, you might find out eventually when it might be too late and there may be no remedy.”

Medical Director of Dutse General Hospital, Dr. Mahmoud Abdulwahab, who also donated his blood to express his support for the initiative, described the exercise as unprecedented considering the magnitude of maternal death, which is on the increase in the state.

“This will go a long way in reducing maternal death. I, therefore, like to commend the effort of these corps members who volunteered to donate their blood to save the lives of women they have never met or would never meet in their lives.”