Cadi Ayyad University launches major blood donation drive in Marrakech

Yesterday 23:40

Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) has launched a new blood donation initiative in Marrakech, bringing together students, academics and administrative staff around a campaign aimed at supporting regional blood supplies and promoting regular donation.

Held under the slogan “Blood donation is everyone’s responsibility,” the campaign was organised by UCA’s Centre for Inclusive Education and Social Responsibility in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for Blood and its Derivatives (AMSD) in the Marrakech-Safi region.

The initiative combines a practical response to healthcare needs with a broader awareness effort, encouraging members of the university community to view blood donation as an ongoing civic commitment rather than an occasional act of solidarity.

University seen as a major mobilisation platform

The scale of the university community gives the campaign significant potential. UCA President Belaid Bougadir said the institution could potentially mobilise as many as 10,000 donors, given the number of students, teaching staff and administrative employees across its establishments.

He also highlighted the role of university lecturers in encouraging students to adopt a culture of regular blood donation. According to Bougadir, strengthening awareness within the academic environment can help contribute to preventing shortages of blood supplies in the region.

The campaign forms part of a wider series of social initiatives accompanying the start of the academic year, placing health-related solidarity among the activities promoted within the university.

Campaign to expand across UCA institutions

Mohamed Seif Salam, the AMSD’s regional representative, said the current operation is part of a programme that will be extended to different institutions affiliated with Cadi Ayyad University.

The previous edition mobilised around 4,500 participants, providing a benchmark for this year’s campaign. Organisers are hoping to increase participation and encourage more young people to become regular donors.

For the AMSD, involving young people is particularly important because awareness developed during university years can help establish long-term donation habits and strengthen the availability of blood for patients requiring transfusions.

Linking higher education with social responsibility

Beyond its immediate contribution to blood stocks, the campaign highlights the role universities can play in community-based health initiatives.

By opening its campuses to blood donation activities, Cadi Ayyad University is seeking to connect academic life with broader principles of citizenship, collective responsibility and solidarity. The initiative also provides students and staff with a direct opportunity to participate in a healthcare-related action with a potentially life-saving impact.

The campaign in Marrakech is therefore part of a wider effort to make blood donation more visible among younger generations and to encourage sustained participation in this form of community support.