Telugu diaspora takes lead in blood donation drive in Nigeria

HYDERABAD: In a country where there is critical low supply of blood due to hesitation to donate blood, the Indian diaspora in Nigeria is responding to the need. The Telugu community in Nigeria has taken the initiative and organised a blood donation camp.
“We encouraged first-time donors to come forward,” said Kasturi Praveen Kumar, president of Telugu Association of Nigeria.

Such is the situation in Nigeria that though the annual need is 1.8 million units, only 66,000 units of blood are donated. “There is a huge gap in the need and the supply. It is for this reason that we, as a community, decided to not only donate blood but also encourage others to make it a habit,” said Praveen Kumar.
A beginning has been made with 50 units of blood being donated at a programme organised in association with Rotary Club of Lagos on December 11 at Hindu Mandir Foundation premises in Lagos. Apart from Praveen, Kunal Sanghi, club president, and Ramesh Babu Murki, chairman of the blood donation camp project, motivated the local Telugu community to participate in the camp.
“There are many cases where patients lose their lives because of blood shortage. The Indian community has come forward with the blood donation initiative so that at least some lives can be saved,” Praveen said.