Lagos advocates increase in blood donation

The Lagos State Government says it is targeting to increase its units of donated blood from its current over 115,000 units to 200,000 units. This is in the bid to meet its annual blood requirements and the World Health Organsation’s recommended estimate of blood requirement per population.

READ ALSO:Lagos Government urges residents on voluntary blood donation

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, disclosed this while reviewing scheduled activities lined up by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service to commemorate the 2023 World Blood Donor Day in Lagos.

He disclosed that apart from the recorded increase in donated blood to over 115,000 units, the LSBTS had been able to screen 100 per cent of all blood units collected in the state.

He noted that the LSBTS also produces blood components, including fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitates and platelet concentrates from 90 per cent of voluntarily donated blood with the decentralisation of its storage to ensure easy accessibility.

Speaking also, the Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr. Biodun Osikomaiya, said about 37 per cent of Lagos population was eligible and clinically fit to donate blood.

She added that eligible citizens could donate blood by walking into a dedicated voluntary blood donation centre at the General Hospital Lagos and General Hospital Gbagada, or at the Accident and Emergency Centre, located at the Old Toll Gate and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

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