By Francesca Hangeior
The National Blood Service Agency has called on Nigerians, particularly residents of the Federal Capital Territory to donate blood to support victims of the tanker explosion that occurred on the Aya-Karu expressway, Abuja.
The NBSA, in a statement on Thursday signed by its Director General, Prof Saleh Yuguda, said the incident resulted in multiple casualties, many of whom require immediate blood transfusions.
Yuguda stated that hospitals and emergency response teams are working tirelessly to save lives, but an adequate blood supply is crucial to their efforts.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, the incident involved a Compressed Natural Gas truck that lost control and crashed into another truck along AYA-Karu expressway on Wednesday at about 7pm.
NEMA said six fatalities were recorded, 18 vehicles burnt, but the number of injured victims are yet to determined.
It added that the injured victims were taken to National Hospital, State House Clinic, Karu General Hospital, and Customs Clinic, Karu for medical attention.
Meanwhile, the NBSA said, “We urge all eligible donors to visit designated blood donation centres and hospitals across the FCT to make voluntary blood donations. Your generosity can make the difference between life and death for those in critical condition.
” For further inquiries and directions to the nearest donation centers, please contact the National Blood Service Agency at 39 Abidjan Street , Zone Wuse or call 07088370905. Together, we can save lives.”