Lagos State Government, through its Blood Transfusion Services (LSBTS), has announced it saved over 1.5 million lives and recruited more than two million voluntary blood donors since the agency’s inception.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday said this in his keynote address during a symposium themed: “Pioneering the Path and Shaping the Future of Blood Services in Nigeria” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of LSBTS, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, Sanwo-Olu noted that despite the increasing number of blood donors annually, the state still relies on various forms of coercive blood donation.
He said the State is committed to ensuring LSBTS has up-to-date infrastructure so every pint of blood transfused is safe and free from infections.
“In Lagos, we will ensure the Lagos Blood Transfusion Services have adequate infrastructure. We will align with global standards and use the most advanced technology to provide safe blood, free from the possibility of transmitting any blood infection, particularly HIV”, he said.
He assured that the government would continue to provide healthcare workers with a conducive environment and adequate infrastructure for effective healthcare delivery.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi also congratulated LSBTS on achieving a significant milestone with efficient service delivery.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of LSBTC, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, in her welcome address, highlighted the significant achievements of the LSBT Committee, which she said were driven by passion, strong political will, and technological innovations.
The Keynote Speaker at the Symposium, Major General Olatilewa Amusu (rtd), explained that blood transfusion is an indispensable component of healthcare that saves millions of lives annually in both routine and emergencies.
Amusu emphasised the need to establish and strengthen a centralised hemovigilance system for continuous quality improvement of the transfusion process through corrective and preventive actions to enhance donor and patient safety.
Alleluia is the Assistant Editor and Content Writer at LagosPost.ng. She is a prolific writer and editor, she has written features and news stories on Lifestyle, Sports, Business, Politics and B2B marketing. She is also an event coordinator, host and social media content creator.
