The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya has said more than 260,000 units of blood are needed annually to meet the blood transfusion demand in the state.
She said efforts have been improved by the state government via LSBTS to make sure that every blood for transfusion will come from voluntary blood donors.
According to her, the demand for blood increases yearly because of the growing population of the state, so all hands must be on deck.
Her words, “The demand for blood is ever-present and increasing especially with the growing population of Lagos State. This blood transfusion demand, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimation is that blood donation from at least one to two percent of the population is needed to meet their blood needs.
“This is why we need residents to donate voluntarily to meet these demands and save precious lives.”
“The crux of the plan is to increase the availability of safe blood by promoting voluntary blood donation, reducing activities of commercial blood touts and retaining already recruited voluntary blood donors for sustained blood supply.
“We, therefore, cannot overemphasize the need to ensure the availability of blood in our blood banks where patients who require blood transfusion can be readily supplied. That is why we are intensifying our awareness campaign to encourage more voluntary blood donors to join others who give their blood willingly and freely without knowing the recipients.”
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