Insurance coy encourages staff to donate blood

Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, an insurance company, has called on its staff to donate blood regularly.

Mr Kenneth Egbaran, the Managing Director, made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at a news conference to mark the World Blood Donor Day.

Egbaran applauded the World Health Organisation (WHO) for setting aside a day on the need for people to donate blood regularly.

"The day is set aside to show solidarity and appreciation to blood donors around the world, while creating wider public awareness of the need for regular and unpaid blood donation.

He recalled that recently Verital Kapital Assurance partnered with the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) to celebrate the day.

He said that the partnership was aimed at improving the availability of safe blood in the country.

"The drive for the blood donation is part of its corporate social responsibility activities.

"I commend the high turnout of staff and as a responsible corporate citizen, the company is humbled for the opportunity given to us to save lives by contributing to the efforts of the NBSC," he said.

Egbaran said that the company was motivated to partake in this noble gesture due to its "deep resolve to play a pivotal role in socially responsible programmes that will positively impact the lives and wellbeing of everyday Nigerians."

Also Mrs Aisha Garba, the Head, Corporate Services of Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, attributed the high turnout of staff to the "employee volunteer programmes" instituted by the company at the beginning of the year.

"These programmes actively engage staff to effectively serve their communities and the environment of which blood donation in collaboration with the NBSC is a top priority," Garba.

Earlier, Mr Arinze Adigwe, the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications of the company, praised the NBSC for its professionalism and support.

Adigwe said that the management and staff of Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc "are deeply honoured and grateful for the opportunity to save lives''.

He said that the blood drive was the first of more collaborative activities with the NBSC.