By Rosemary Iwunze
AXA Mansard Insurance Plc has been honoured with the Community Hero Award by the Blood Transfusion Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in recognition of its contribution to strengthening voluntary blood donation and supporting efforts to improve access to life-saving blood for patients.
The recognition comes amid growing calls for increased voluntary blood donation to address recurring shortages in healthcare facilities across Nigeria, where hospitals continue to rely heavily on voluntary donors to meet transfusion needs.
According to the insurer, the award followed its sustained employee-led blood donation drives organised in partnership with the Blood Transfusion Centre, LUTH, as part of its corporate sustainability and community health initiatives.
Over the past two years, employees of the company have donated more than 200 pints of blood to support patients requiring life-saving transfusions, with participation drawn from across its operations.
The company said the initiative demonstrates its commitment to improving community wellbeing while fostering a culture of volunteerism among employees.
Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard Plc, Adebola Surakat, described the recognition as an affirmation of the company’s purpose of advancing human progress through initiatives that extend beyond its core insurance business.
“At AXA Mansard, our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters. We believe protection should be inclusive and extend beyond insurance to improving the wellbeing and resilience of the communities we serve,” she said.
According to Surakat, the award reflects not only the organisation’s commitment to supporting healthcare interventions but also the willingness of its employees to contribute to initiatives that create lasting social impact.
She noted that the company would continue to encourage employee volunteerism and invest in programmes that promote healthier and more resilient communities.
The Community Hero Award is presented to organisations that have demonstrated commitment to promoting blood donation awareness, encouraging voluntary participation and supporting the availability of safe and sustainable blood supplies for healthcare delivery.
Healthcare experts have consistently identified inadequate voluntary blood donation as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, with stakeholders urging greater private sector participation in initiatives that strengthen national blood reserves and improve emergency medical response.
