LAGOS LAUNCHES BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN, TARGETS 10 LGAS
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Lagos State Government has launched a statewide advocacy campaign to promote regular voluntary blood donation and improve the availability of safe blood for residents.
The campaign, coordinated by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), began on Monday with an advocacy walk and sensitisation exercise at Jubilee Bridge and Jubilee Market in Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
The Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, said the Eti-Osa exercise was the first of 10 planned advocacy programmes across the state’s 20 local government areas.
The initiative allows residents to donate blood through a mobile blood collection unit stationed at campaign venues or at designated government hospitals.
The campaign will also cover Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry, Epe and Lagos Island, among other areas.
The government said the initiative aims to ensure that safe blood is readily available, particularly during medical emergencies.
At the Maternal and Child Centre, Eti-Osa, Osikomaiya presented blood bags, gloves, sample bottles, donor forms, information materials and voluntary blood donation cards to support blood collection.
The state government said donors issued voluntary blood donation cards would be entitled to receive blood without out-of-pocket payment when needed.
The Medical Director of MCC Eti-Osa, Dr Olufemi Aletan, stressed the importance of blood availability, particularly for pregnant women and patients experiencing severe bleeding.
He urged residents, especially husbands of pregnant women, to donate blood regularly and support efforts to strengthen safe antenatal care and childbirth services.
A 13-time blood donor, Olawale Alaba, described blood donation as a simple act that could save lives, urging eligible residents to donate every three months.
Other donors also encouraged first-time donors to overcome their fears and embrace voluntary blood donation as a way of giving back to society.
The Lagos State Government said the campaign would continue across selected LGAs as part of efforts to strengthen voluntary blood donation and establish a reliable supply of safe blood across the state.
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