The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Zanas Deck (Lagos Mainland chapter), under the auspices of the NAS Medical Mission has donated blood to boost blood banks in Lagos.
The exercise which attracted over 50 Pyrates, some of whom came with their wives and colleagues took place on the 3rd of October 2022 was carried out simultaneously at two government-owned hospitals – 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, and National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos. The Capoon of Zanas Deck, Nnamdi Agulonu, who led other members to the blood donation exercise, said it was part of efforts of the association to save lives. According to him, this is the second time in a row the organization would be carrying out the blood donation exercise. He disclosed that the blood donation exercise was organized in fulfilment of one of the four compass points of Pyrates Confraternity -For Humanistic ideals.
Agulonu while explaining that it is designed to run twice in a year stressed that the two government-owned hospitals that benefited from this exercise were chosen due to the peculiar nature of Lagos and the volume of accident and emergency patients that are being rushed into these facilities daily. “We have identified this societal pain point and are prepared to contribute to humanity’s uplift by making sure that every six months we will have our members do the blood donation within our immediate locality,” Agulonu said.
Chief Medical Directors of both health institutions while commending members of the Zanas Deck for the kind gesture reminded Nigerians of the need to donate blood for indigent Nigerians. They noted that blood donors assist patients of all ages, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and cancer patients.
Dr. Mrs Mulikat Badru, Consultant Haematologist who represented the Chief Medical Director of the The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, urged other public-spirited organisations to emulate NAS and donate blood to the hospital.
Colonel Ayeni while explaining that the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba because of its location in a central area is inundated with a huge traffic of patients that need emergency blood transfusion, particularly bone operation stressed that the blood donated by members of NAS would go a long way in saving lives in emergency cases.
By Franklyn Uwajuonye
Zanas Deck
