NBSC criticises shortage in Nigeria’s blood bank
The Acting Director General, National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), Dr. Omale Amedu, criticised the shortage in Nigeria’s blood bank.
Amedu said this at the commencement of the nationwide sensitisation on the NBSC mandate in Abuja.
He said, “There is a great deficit in blood bank that we have currently. Having a population of over 200 million Nigerians, we are expected to have a minimum of two million safe blood units per annum but as I speak to you we have only about 25,000 safe blood units in our record.
“So we really need Nigerians to volunteer blood freely because you never can tell, who needs blood, we need to be prepared.”
Amedu said, the frequent donation of blood help to revitalise the body system and also improves the health status of the donor due to the clinical check-up.
He said, the flag-off of the sensitisation on the NBSC mandate was to further ensure the regulation, coordination and provision of safe, quality blood and blood products nationwide.
“Our target is to increase blood units collected from voluntary non remunerated donors and sensitise Nigerians on the one million Safe Blood Units Initiative.
“Such that blood units collected will increase from 25,000 to one million by 2023 and three million by 2030,” he said.
The Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, NBSC, Dr. Adeze Oreh, said the expected outcome of the sensitisation exercise would achieve Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals.
Oreh said that, it would also enhance citizens’ access to safe blood and help improve the citizen’s understanding of the role of multi sector stakeholders in strengthening the blood transfusion value chain.
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, who was represented by Dr. Chris Isokonwe, the Senior Special Technical Assistant in the ministry, said there was need for more sensitisation and mobilisation of citizens to embrace blood donation as a responsibility of all.
According to him, blood donation save lives. He also called on stakeholders to ensure safe, quality provision of necessary blood and products for the good of all in Nigeria.
Temitope/NAN
