The Lagos State Government has commenced a local government advocacy campaign to promote voluntary blood donation as a lifestyle, urging residents to donate regularly to ensure adequate blood supply for emergencies.
The campaign began with an advocacy walk and one-on-one sensitisation at Jubilee Bridge and Jubilee Market in Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State BloodTransfusionService (LSBTS), Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, said the Eti-Osa exercise was the first of 10 advocacy and sensitisation programmes planned across the state’s 20 local government areas.
ALSO READ:Nigeria Seeks Private Investment to Power Healthcare Facilities
Osikomaiya said the initiative was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation and providing residents with opportunities to donate to mobile blood banks stationed at designated government hospitals.
She said the campaign would extend to other parts of the state, including Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry, Epe and Lagos Island, stressing that the ultimate objective was to ensure the availability of safe blood for residents when needed.
The Executive Secretary commended the state government for providing funds, personnel and logistics required to strengthen a blood supply system, describing access to safe blood as a priority.
At the Maternal and Child Centre, MCC Eti-Osa, Osikomaiya presented blood bags, gloves, sample bottles, donor forms, information materials and voluntary blood donation cards to support the facility’s blood collection efforts.
She explained that donors issued voluntary blood donation cards would be entitled to access blood without out-of-pocket payment when the need arose.
The Medical Director of MCC Eti-Osa, Dr Olufemi Aletan, said the facility’s partnership with LSBTS had underscored the critical importance of blood availability, particularly during emergencies involving pregnant women and patients with severe bleeding.
Aletan recalled instances where the facility required fresh frozen plasma for patients, stressing that timely access to blood could determine whether a patient survived.
He disclosed that MCC Eti-Osa was working towards establishing an independent blood bank and commended LSBTS for its support.
The medical director urged more residents, particularly husbands of pregnant women, to donate blood regularly, assuring them that the hospital would continue to strengthen its blood transfusion capacity to support safe antenatal care and childbirth.
Speaking on their experiences, a 13-time donor, Mr Olawale Alaba, described blood donation as a simple act that should not be reserved for emergencies involving relatives or friends.
Another donor, Mr Taiwo Abifarin, who had donated blood twice, said he donated because he believed it was a way of saving lives and giving back to the society.
First-time donors, including Abdullahi Mohammed, Rabiu Abiodun and Gbadamosi Sulaiman, also encouraged residents to overcome their fears and embrace voluntary blood donation.
The LSBTS campaign is expected to continue across the state, in a bid to build a sustainable culture of voluntary blood donation and safe blood accessibility.
Victoria Ibanga
