Lagos State Government renews its blood donation campaign, targeting 250,000 units annually to ensure safe, adequate and sustainable blood supply for healthcare services

The Lagos State Government has renewed its campaign to ensure a safe, adequate and sustainable blood supply, setting a target of about 250,000 units of blood annually to meet the healthcare needs of the state’s growing population.

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The campaign is being driven through the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) Voluntary Blood Donation Awareness and One-to-One Sensitisation Campaign.

The initiative, themed “Voluntary Donors, Sustainable Blood: Securing Lagos State’s Blood Supply,” was held on Tuesday at the Secretariat Community in Alausa, Ikeja, as part of activities marking Blood Awareness Month.

Declaring the event open, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos — with an estimated population of about 30 million — requires between 200,000 and 250,000 units of blood every year.

He disclosed that approximately 141,000 units were collected in the last cycle, representing about 70 per cent of the target, and commended residents who voluntarily donated blood to save lives.

Abayomi described blood as a “liquid organ,” likening transfusion to organ transplantation, and stressed that strict protocols, including rigorous screening and accurate donor-recipient matching, are essential to prevent complications and infections.

He reassured eligible donors that blood donation poses no health risk and urged young people to make it a regular habit.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the demand for blood remains constant due to emergencies such as childbirth complications, road accidents and surgical procedures.

She said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has modernised blood transfusion services through digitisation, improved tracking systems and strengthened safety protocols to ensure that only screened and safe blood is supplied to health facilities.

Ogunyemi stressed that blood donation should be seen as a daily necessity rather than a seasonal activity, urging residents to overcome fear and misconceptions associated with donation.

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In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, praised the LSBTS and voluntary donors for their commitment, describing blood as a life-saving resource essential for effective healthcare delivery.