The Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to guarantee a safe, adequate and sustainable blood supply, as the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) took its voluntary blood donation campaign directly to residents at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
The awareness and one-on-one sensitisation campaign, held on Tuesday as part of activities marking LSBTS Blood Awareness Month, was themed “Voluntary Donors, Sustainable Blood: Securing Lagos State’s Blood Supply.” It reinforced the state’s resolve to entrench a culture of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos, with an estimated population of about 30 million, requires between 200,000 and 250,000 units of blood annually to meet its healthcare needs.
He noted that voluntary donation remains the safest and most reliable source of blood.
Abayomi disclosed that about 141,000 units of blood were recorded in the last cycle, roughly 70 per cent of the state’s target, commending residents who donated voluntarily to save lives during emergencies.
Describing blood as a “liquid organ,” the commissioner stressed that blood transfusion is comparable to organ transplantation and must follow strict scientific protocols, including thorough screening and accurate donor-recipient matching, to prevent complications and infections.
He reassured residents that blood donation poses no health risk to eligible donors, urging especially young people to make it a regular habit, noting that every pint donated translates directly into lives saved across health facilities.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the demand for blood is constant, driven by childbirth complications, road traffic accidents, surgeries and other medical emergencies that occur daily.
She said the Sanwo-Olu administration has modernised blood transfusion services through digitisation, improved tracking systems and strengthened safety protocols to ensure that only safe, screened blood reaches patients.
According to her, rigorous screening processes are in place to protect both donors and recipients, while continuous training of personnel ensures compliance with global best practices.
She urged residents to discard myths and fears surrounding blood donation, stressing that it is a daily necessity, not a seasonal exercise.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, described blood as life and a critical resource for effective healthcare delivery.
She noted that while demand often rises during festive periods due to increased accidents, the need for blood persists throughout the year.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, lamented the persistence of myths that discourage blood donation, despite daily medical emergencies.
She said the campaign was designed to take advocacy directly to communities, starting with government offices and public spaces, to encourage wider participation.
Osikomaiya added that LSBTS is strengthening one-on-one sensitisation and opening its facilities to the public to improve transparency in blood collection, testing, processing and storage.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, said the campaign aligns with global blood donation advocacy, noting that digital platforms have been expanded to help residents easily access information on where and how to donate blood all year round.
Some donors shared personal experiences at the event. Mohammed Asalejo, who has donated since 2022, said the practice has improved his sense of wellbeing and motivated him to encourage others.
Another donor, Alhaji Oladele Asalejo, who has donated for over 15 years, urged residents not to shy away from donating, describing it as beneficial both medically and socially.
The event featured awareness talks, donor mobilisation, voluntary blood donation, extensive sensitisation and the distribution of information materials, as the state intensifies efforts to secure a reliable and safe blood supply for its growing population.