Serving its host communities with significant healthcare outreach programmes and regular medical camps covering health issues such as cough, malaria, typhoid, high blood pressure, skin rashes and other ailments in different local government areas as well as providing free consultations, medicines and basic laboratory tests on spot; Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) since inception, has been committed to providing its employees with all the necessary healthcare facilities and support structures in case of any emergency across work locations in Nigeria.
The company is also one of the fastest-growing oil exploration and production companies in Africa, and has been dedicatedly taking care of the health needs of not just its members of staff but in all communities it operates in.
Motivated by and as a part of this strong commitment to healthcare, the company employees also decided to take a step forward for giving back to the community by forming a SEEPCO Blood Donor Club. The primary aim of this club is to create a reliable platform through which LSBTC, and other healthcare providers can reach out for blood donations in times of emergency.
Sterling Oil’s supported non-profit organizations especially VCDF (Vcare for Development Foundation) are already working in partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other health organisations in their initiatives of blood donation drives for issues encompassing critical blood shortage, emergency patients need, mothers in childbirth, accident victims and sick children, to access life-saving blood.
Since 2022, VCDF, along with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) has been organising annual blood donation drives involving volunteers from Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), Through this initiative, VCDF has contributed more than 850 pints of blood to the state’s blood bank helping over 2000 patients and their families. This milestone underscores VCDF’s unwavering commitment to saving lives, fostering a culture of voluntary blood donation, and addressing Nigeria’s critical blood shortage issues.
Adding to this, SEEPCO Blood Donor Club is a very thoughtful initiative as stated by Dr. B. I. Osikomaiya, Executive Secretary, LSBTC. She further stated, “This is a laudable initiative and aligns perfectly with our goal of ensuring a safe, sufficient and readily available blood supply across Lagos state. The creation of a structured donor club will provide a sustainable and dependable platform for emergency blood mobilization, especially in critical times. We are particularly pleased to know about this voluntary donorclub comprising SEEPCO employees,” she said.
Speaking also at the event, Olayinka Animashaun, Head of the Donor Recruitment Unit at LSBTC, praised SEEPCO and VCDF’s commitment and highlighted the positive impact the campaign has had on public health. She encouraged that blood donation drives like the one with SEEPCO should be held twice a year to help bridge the existing gap in blood availability.
On this occasion, Dr. Chris Offokansi, Chief General Manager, Human Resource and Industrial Relations, SEEPCO,said, “Through this initiative, Sterling Oil continues to reaffirm its commitment to support public health and life-saving efforts across Nigeria. The Blood Donor Club will actively promote voluntary blood donation among employees raise awareness and working together as partners fostering a culture of giving, Sterling Oil will continue its work towards making a meaningful and lasting impact in the communities we serve.”
