The Lagos State Government has stated that it is capable of providing a sufficient amount of safe blood and blood products in a timely manner in the case of an emergency or natural disaster.
According to The PUNCH, this was stated by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, through a statement on Thursday.
He highlighted that the state government, through the LSBTS, has built the capacity to deliver safe blood for emergency services during disasters.
The state blood transfusion service is responsible for organising the emergency plan and coordinating the actions of public and private blood banks, blood donation centres, and third-party logistics companies, as Osikomaiya explained during the LSBTS quarterly management review meeting held at the agency’s headquarters located within the premises of the Gbagada General Hospital.
She explained further that “Lagos has 28 public blood banks, 126 private blood banks, a network of blood donation centres, blood transportation and logistical support by ambulances, motorcycles, and third-party blood logistic companies licensed under the supervision of the LSBTS for the movement of blood from blood banks to hospitals and in times of disaster, and from the disaster site to the hospital where the transfusion is required.”
She added that the agency has implemented the requirements of its mandate by “progressively increasing the number of voluntary blood donors at the grassroots and ensuring that every unit of blood is safe for transfusion.”
Osikomaiya also revealed that, in accordance with the international standard of Emergency Blood Release, her organisation has developed a protocol for maintaining a constant stock of blood for emergencies and disasters, including Blood Group ‘O Rhesus’ negative blood, which does not require cross-matching prior to transfusion.
