Nelson Mandela Centenary: Blood Donation Organised

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s nationalist leader and first black President, died on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95 after serving one term of office from 1994-1999. If Mandela had been alive, he would have turned 100 years on July 18, 2018. To mark the centenary anniversary of his birthday, the South African High Commission in Cameroon, the Ministry of Public Health and a local telephone company, on December 11, 2018 organised a blood donation exercise in the University of Yaounde I at Ngoa-Ekelle.

Speaking at the event, High Commissioner Kgomotso Ruth Magau said they chose the charity event because there are always people in need of blood. “In memory of Nelson Mandela, the High Commission encourages people to do something – no matter how small – to change lives. Like Mandela always said, take action, make a difference,” she underscored. The South African High Commissioner also encouraged university students to be followers of Nelson Mandela.

Dr Noah Owona, Permanent Secretary of the National Programme for Blood Transfusion, described the blood donation event as “another opportunity for Cameroonians to save lives and show solidarity towards each other.” Staff from the Hospital Centre for Applied Research in Endoscopic Surgery and Reproductive Health,