Red Cross appeals for Lagosians to donate blood for victims of collapsed building

NIGERIAN Red Cross (NRC) officials have made a passionate plea for members of the public to donate blood to help assist the victims of the recent collapsed building in Lagos Island that housed a primary school.

Yesterday, a four-storey building in the Ita Faji area on Lagos Island collapsed killings dozens and trapping hundreds, including more than 100 pupils, whose primary school was in the facility. About 40 pupils were pulled out of the building, which had been identified as distressed and listed for demolition by the Lagos State government.

NRC officials have been working around the clock since yesterday and believe they have now recovered all the bodies in the building. Olakunle Lasisi, secretary of NRC, Lagos, said what they now need are blood donations from members of the public, adding that the Red Cross would partake in the exercise.

Mr Lasisi said: “When an incident like this happens, blood donations are always required to meet the demand of those in need of blood transfusion. It is a good opportunity for the blood bank to replenish because there are people who want to assist.

He added that he spoken with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service and they were assisting to help address the issue. Mr Lasisi commended volunteers and other agencies such including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (Lasema), Lagos State Emergency Medical Service, the National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Ambulance Service, Fed Fire and the Nigeria Police Force, whose efforts ensured that lives were saved.

“The data we were able to collate tells us that we have about 45 persons that were evacuated and a good number of them are students.  There are a lot of agencies and two construction companies also assisting," Mr Lasisi added.

Lasema general manager Adeshina Tiamiyu, said there is no one left trapped under the debris of the collapsed building at the moment. He added that every trapped victim in the collapsed building has been rescued.

Mr Tiamiyu added: “We stopped work at 3am after recovering the lifeless body of a male and we are sure there is no casualty left under the debris." However, he said Lasema cannot confirm the total casualty figure rescued from the building, but the ministry of health would release the accurate figure later on.