FG to promote the appropriate use of blood in the hospital — Minister of Health

Health Minister Dr Osagie Ehanire has said he will continue to ensure proper use of blood in hospitals, reducing complications that can arise from inefficient blood services across the country.< /p>

Ehanire said in Ibadan on Monday at the inauguration of the Centrifugal Component Blood Separation Machines and establishment of the Higher Education Blood Safety Club organized by the National Blood Service Commission, (NBSC) South West Zonal Center, Ibadan.

The Minister who was represented by Dr Omale Amedu, Acting Chief Executive, NBSC, said that achieving a more effective and efficient national blood service requires proper coordination and regulation to ensure safety, quality, equitable distribution and accessibility of blood and blood. products across the country when needed.

According to him, the inauguration of the Tertiary Education Blood Safety Club heralds a new era of youth commitment to improving voluntary blood donation, blood safety and improving health in Nigeria.

Ehanire noted that the provision of blood components in addition to whole blood by NBSC through the cold centrifuge system will ensure appropriate clinical use of blood in hospitals across our country.

He said it would reduce transfusion-transmissible infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis, as well as transfusion-related adverse reactions and events, thereby changing the face of blood transfusion services in Nigeria .

"The impact of this on the country's health indices will testify to the contributions of NBSC to the health of the Nigerian people.

"The Commission requires and seeks the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders to achieve its mandates.

“Blood is life. Safe blood saves lives. Safe blood and blood products save more lives,” Ehanire said.

Speaking in his capacity, Amedu said the NBSC, in conjunction with other government agencies and the media, would form a committee to crack down on quacks engaging in blood services throughout the state of federation.

Amedu said that the commissioning of the blood component separation cold centrifuge system will improve the efficiency of the national blood system, close the existing gaps in the demand and supply of blood and blood products .

He further stated that it will reduce wastage by ensuring that specific blood product needs such as fresh frozen plasma, platelets and red blood cells, can be met.

"This will greatly address the need for safe tested blood and blood products in the management of conditions such as sickle cell disease, severe malaria, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders, cancers, severe kidney disease, traffic accidents and bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth to name a few,” Amedu said.

Earlier, NBSC Acting Zonal Director, South West Dr. Oladapo Aworanti said there was a need to increase the output of the commission, WHO reported that if 1% of the total population of a country can be a regular and voluntary donor, this will facilitate meeting the transfusion needs of its citizens.

He said that many studies in Nigeria have also revealed that most voluntary unpaid blood donors are from the age group of students in tertiary institutions.

According to him, harnessing this potential by inaugurating blood safety clubs shows that we are moving towards the sufficiency of the blood supply in our country.

Others in their goodwill messages including Oyo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bode Ladipo; Teacher. Abiodun Otegbayo, Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital; the National Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, among other dignitaries, pledged their support to help ensure the commission achieves its mandate.