The youth centre in Bohicon hosted an unprecedented event on the morning of Saturday 23 July 2022. This is a session dedicated to the collection of a large quantity of blood bags for the benefit of hospitals. An event organised by Mrs Rakiatou Sambo, President-elect of the Rotary Club of Bohicon and Secretary at the University of Abomey.
The National Agency for Blood Transfusion (ANTS) has been waging a media battle for several weeks now by multiplying the appeals for blood donations for the benefit of the health centres in the department of Zou and the hills. Touched by this appeal, Mrs Rakiatou Sambo had the ingenious idea of organising a blood collection session on the occasion of her birthday to save lives. Her relatives, friends and colleagues in the service and many other people of good will have shown their active solidarity in supporting the initiative by agreeing to participate in this operation.
“I am aware of the lack of blood bags in the health centres at this very sensitive time. This is why I decided to invite my friends to this idea, if only to collect a few bags of blood for the benefit of hospitals in order to save children and pregnant women who are in need. A way of responding to the ANTS call for blood donations”, said Mrs Rakiatou Sambo at the launch of the activities.
A blood drive that required the mobilisation of more than one
The initiative, without fanfare, was more widely supported. It mobilised both old and new blood donors for this purpose. Most of these donors have appreciated the approach and feel that this example opens their minds and deserves to be replicated everywhere. For donors, instead of gathering around a table each time to eat and drink on our birthday, we have realised that we can celebrate these moments in a different way and for the benefit of our community. Opinions shared by the President of the Zou-Collines blood donors, Mr. Gorges Gnimadi, who was also present at this celebration to support his comrade in struggle, Mrs. Rakiatou Sambo. “While we eat and drink, let’s not forget that children and pregnant women are dying because of the lack of blood on hospital beds,” he adds.
In the health centres, there is still a high demand for blood bags, especially during this very sensitive period. “If other people can follow in my footsteps by making this useful gesture in other neighbourhoods, in other districts, it will do our country good. It is not necessarily about blood donation but about other similar initiatives that benefit the community,” concludes Mrs. Rakiatou Sambo.
The will is commendable and should serve as an example to other citizens of our country, especially the young. It should be noted that this blood donation collection also benefited from the support of some political and administrative authorities of Bohicon and Abomey; the support of the Zou-Collines branch of ANTS, the rectorate of the University of Abomey, Radio Carrefour and many other people of good will. Mrs. Rakiatou Sambo did not fail to express her gratitude especially to the lucky donors who did not bargain on their solidarity and their availability to make this collection a real success.
