In the runup to the 40th edition of the International Women’s Day, female staff of the National Blood Transfusion Service in Yaounde and some regions have activated the machinery to sensitize the population and collect blood for patients in need.
Activities planned for this period kicked-off of with a round table conference, where the women and their male counterparts discussed the role of women in the education of society.
In a succinct presentation, Mrs Wongolo Vanessa, Chief of Service in Charge of Promoting Women’s civil rights in the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, highlighted the fact that by nature, women are teachers and play an important role in the cognitive, emotional and social development of children. Consequently, they have a determinant touch in the way these children later turnout in life. Ensuing discussions saw both men and women bringing forth various ills plaguing today’s society due to a rupture in the assumption of responsibilities at the level of the family which is the nucleus of every society. The two-hour long discussions ended on a satisfactory note with the participants agreeing on the complementary role of women and men in the upbringing of children for a better society.
A plethora of activities have been planned by women of the NBTS which according to the Dr. Aba’a Marthe epse Assiga, Coordinator of the Organising Committee, should help to make the celebration worthwhile. “So far, we have sensitized over 800 people in the streets and public spaces. There is an upcoming blood drive that will take place at the esplanade of the Ministry of Public health from the 5the to the 6th of March and our objective is to get at least 120 pints of blood.” The women partook in a fitness walk organised by Minproff during which they took the opportunity to spread the word and encourage Cameroonians especially women to join the life-saving course of donating blood to those in need. In previous occasions, the NBTS has organised blood drives and this year the objective to surpass the number of blood pints collected during such drives. “Our plea is for Cameroonians aged from 18 who are in good health to come and donate blood”.
This year’s theme which is For All women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment, calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a future where no one is left behind.
Claudette Chin
