Angela
Omeiza

Years ago, I was rushed into emergency surgery after being diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy and a ruptured ovarian cyst. I had already lost a significant amount of blood internally and had fainted before getting to the hospital.

The surgery was successful, but my survival was still uncertain because I urgently needed blood transfusion. Unfortunately, the only available unit of blood in the hospital blood bank that matched my blood type had expired. My mother was physically present but could not donate because she was not my blood type. My father, who shared my blood group, was in another state, while my sisters were out of the country.

I survived without the transfusion, but I never forgot that moment. What stayed with me was the painful realization that many women in similar situations do not survive, not because doctors are unavailable, but because blood is unavailable. Beyond maternal health, thousands of people battling sickle cell complications, cancer, severe anaemia, accidents, and emergency surgeries depend daily on the willingness of another human being to donate blood.

Years later, while working as a broadcaster, I began using my platform to ask difficult questions about why voluntary blood donation remained so low. Those conversations eventually led me to begin designing what later became the J Blood Match App, a digital platform created to connect voluntary blood donors directly to patients in need based on blood type and location.

My passion for mental health advocacy was born from personal experiences with burnout, trauma, emotional pain, psychological abuse, and the culture of silence that often surrounds suffering.

Over time, I began to realize something powerful: when people are given safe spaces to speak honestly without fear, shame, or judgment, healing begins. Sometimes people already carry the answers within themselves. What they need is empathy, support, and the courage to speak.

While working in radio, I created a show called Jela’s Clinic where listeners could call anonymously if they chose to discuss challenges affecting their mental and emotional wellbeing. People spoke about marriage struggles, financial hardship, depression, family conflict, grief, education, health issues, and emotional trauma.

Together with experts who joined me on the show, we listened, guided, encouraged, and connected people to support. One thing became very clear to me : many people are suffering quietly while pretending to be strong.

That philosophy continues to shape our mental health work at JDI today through our unburden group therapy sessions. We believe healing often begins when people feel seen, heard, and supported. It however begins with the courage to speak up and break the silence.