September 6, 2023

Lagos State Government has said that it has the capacity for timely and adequate supply and access to safe blood and blood products in the event of emergencies and disaster occurrence in the State.

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, who stated this on Wednesday, noted that the State Government, through the LSBTS, has developed the capacity to provide safe blood for emergency services during disasters.

Speaking during the LSBTS quarterly management review meeting at the agency’s headquarters located within the premises of the Gbagada General Hospital, Osikomaiya explained that the State Blood Transfusion Service is designated to organise the emergency plan and coordinate actions to be taken by public and private blood banks, blood donation centres and third-party logistics companies in times of disaster and emergencies.

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 stated 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 disclosed further that her agency has designed a protocol for constant stock of blood for emergencies and disasters, including for Blood Group ‘O Rhesus’ negative blood which does not need to be cross-matched before transfusion when the need arises for blood in line with the international standard of Emergency Blood Release.

She noted that the LSBTS through the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has established standard communication systems enhanced with the provision of Closed User Groups (CUGs) in LSBTS and public blood banks and the screening and certification centres.

Osikomaiya added that there is a well-organised communication channel with private blood banks through the Blood Bank Society of Nigeria, the Federal blood bank at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the regional National Blood Service Commission to ensure that safe blood is available promptly during disasters, stressing that there are contact numbers of LSBTS emergency officers located in different hospitals to enhance exchange of information.

While stating that Lagos State is the only State with a policy on automation in screening blood for transfusion transmissible infections like HIV I/II, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis, the Executive Secretary disclosed that Governor Sanwo-Olu recently approved the screening and certification of blood using fully automated systems to ensure the highest quality of safe blood within a short time.

She averred that the emergency preparedness plans in the blood transfusion service are standard protocols implemented during public disasters like the Ita-faaji and BRT bus-train collision accidents.

She added that the outcomes of the two accidents which involved a well-coordinated blood transfusion service by LSBTS were well commended by the patients, management team and the citizens of Lagos State, stressing that no life was lost due to the unavailability of safe blood.

The Executive Secretary noted that contrary to misinformation being peddled in some quarters about unavailability and access to safe blood during emergencies, the LSBTS has collected over 82,000 units of blood through its licensed private and public blood banks as of August 2023, a figure which reflects a 17% increase in the number of units of blood collected a year ago.