Emmanuel Thomas
June 12, 2015 – Chairman of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC), Dr. Adetoun Agbe-Davies has called on residents and individuals alike to support the drive at ensuring that 100% of all blood for transfusion are from voluntary blood donors by donating and encouraging more people to donate blood voluntarily.
Agbe-Davies who made this call at a media briefing in Lagos as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Blood Donor Day noted that recruitment of voluntary blood donors is major activity of the LSBTC stressing that this is in realization that safe blood starts with the voluntary donor.
“In the realization that safe blood starts with the donor, recruitment of voluntary donors is a major activity of the LSBTC. This is because this category of donors have blood that is free from transmissible infections. These people are often repeat donors and help to ensure that safe blood is available”.
According to him, the theme of the year is “thank you for saving my life” with the slogan; “Give freely, give often, blood donation matters”, adding that it focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives everyday through their blood donations and that it strongly encourages more people, all over the world to donate blood voluntarily.
“The World Blood Donor Day is held annually all over the world on 14th June. This year’s campaign and celebration features stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, so that regular blood donors can continue donation and also motivate other healthy people to join in doing so”, she said
The Chairman stressed the need to meet the year 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) set goal that 100% of all blood for transfusion should be from voluntary blood donors.
Agbe-Davies explained that Lagos State has been in the forefront of ensuring the safety of blood for transfusion with the enactment of the Law No 10 of June 2004 which established the LSBTC, adding that the committee is empowered by law to regulate and coordinate blood transfusion service in Lagos State under the supervision of Lagos State Ministry of Health.
She stated that Lagos State is the only State in the country that has a law regulating transfusion services, stressing that the vision is to have a state where only safe blood is transfused in all health facilities.
“The LSBTC organises voluntary blood donation campaigns statewide, ensuring that all blood is screened for Transmission Transmissible Infections(TTI), preparation of blood products, regulation of transportation of blood and blood products in the state, registration, accreditation, regulation and supervision of the blood transfusion service including the facilities throughout the State, in both the public and the private sectors”, the chairman said.
She added that committee is also charged with the functions of ensuring the development of quality control and assurance on all blood transfusion matters in the state and training of all involved in blood transfusion matters.
Agbe-Davies stated that those who constitute the State’s voluntary donor base are recruited from Corporate Organizations, Mosques, Churches, Tertiary Institutions, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Youth Organizations, Religious Organizations, Service Clubs, Non-Governmental Organizations, some foreign embassies and numerous foreign and local communities stressing that many of them become repeat donors as they are happy to help in saving lives.
“A major source of voluntary donors is the Club 25 in our tertiary institutions. These are a group of young persons between the ages of 18 and 25 years who have pledged to donate at least 25 times before they attain the age of 25 years. The Lagos State Chapter was launched in 2009 by the former First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola”, the Chairman said.
She noted that voluntary donors are processed through the eligibility criteria before donation adding that they must be between the ages of 18 and 65 years and must be physically fit stressing also that voluntary donors are referred for treatment if required and given heamatinics and vitamins.
“Refreshments and souvenirs are given routinely. They are remembered on their birthdays and reminded when due for the next donation. All these have impacted positively on the donors resulting in an increase in repeat voluntary donations”.
Agbe-Davies stated that there are eight screening centres where blood from both private and public facilities are screened and certified with the State logo adding that these centres test every unit of blood for HIV I & II, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis as mandated by WHO using the recommended screening kits.
She noted that the blood is also tested for compatibility with the blood of those who require transfusion adding that the blood is also separated into various components in such a way that one unit of blood can save up to three lives stressing that Lagos State is the only state in the country that offers this service.
“There are 25 blood banks in our public facilities and 87 private registered blood banks regulated by the committee. They are required to renew their registration annually. Blood Transport Boxes have been issued to the hospitals and blood banks to enforce regulations on the transportation of blood and blood products while copies of the handbook on Appropriate Clinical Use of Blood for Lagos State have also been circulated for proper guidance”, the Chairman said.
