The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, has commended the management of General Hospital, Enugwu-Ukwu, for maintaining a fully functional blood bank that continues to support emergency care and save lives.
Dr Obidike gave the commendation during activities marking World Blood Donor Day, organised at the hospital by the State Medical Support Services in collaboration with the Medical Laboratory Department.
He praised the facility’s commitment to ensuring a steady supply of safe blood, noting that its services had recently been critical in treating victims of road accidents within the past few months.
The Commissioner urged residents to embrace voluntary blood donation, stressing that consistent donor participation remains essential for effective emergency response and overall healthcare delivery in the state.
He also encouraged the hospital to maintain a proper donor database to ensure that regular volunteers can be easily contacted when urgent need arises.
Dr Obidike further reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, noting that Governor Chukwuma Soludo had approved salary adjustments for certain categories of health workers and that additional improvements were underway.
Also speaking at the event, the Hospital Administrator, Dr Frank Ifeanaeme, commended voluntary blood donors for their contributions and described their efforts as life-saving and worthy of appreciation. He also thanked healthcare workers for their participation in the annual World Blood Donor Day celebration, observed globally on June 14.
The Medical Officer in charge of the hospital, Dr Dozie Udeolisa, called on laboratory personnel to maintain strict screening procedures for all donated blood to ensure safety and prevent transmission of infections.
The Director of Medical Support Services, Mrs Nneka Uzor, said the annual commemoration serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining adequate and safe blood supplies for emergency care and routine medical needs.
Other stakeholders present at the event included the Head of Haematology, Ms Ogochukwu Okonkwo; Head of the Medical Laboratory Department, Ms Ifeoma Onuorah; and the hospital Dietitian, Ms Ifeoma Obidike, among others.
The report was filed by Ebele Egoh of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.
