The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), has tasked citizens to donate blood voluntarily in other to ensure availability of safe blood and blood products for transfusion in health facilities across the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Olabode Agoro, made this known while receiving representatives of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee at a voluntary blood donor campaign held recently within the premises of the Bureau.
This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Voluntary blood donation is a trait of responsible citizens – LASG,’ made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the Ministry of Information and Strategy.
The statement said Agoro affirmed that the provision of safe and adequate blood was an integral part of every country’s national health care policy and infrastructure.
He added that the establishment of the blood transfusion committee to coordinate all activities related to blood collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution, through effective organisation and an integrated blood supply network, was impressive.
Agoro, represented by the Director, Administration, and Human Resources, Mr. Murphy Owodeyi, explained that the strengthening of the donor system and effective management, including care and counselling, had made the practice seamless across the metropolis.
“Without concrete recognition of blood transfusion as an integral part of the health care system in Lagos State, the infrastructure, the human and financial resources will not perform optimally,” he opined.
He encouraged civil servants to subscribe to the ideals of blood donation, adding that blood supplies needed to be constantly replenished since whole blood and blood components have a limited shelf-life.
MTO/Punch