Lagos Intensifies Campaign to Secure Sustainable Blood Supply

The Lagos State Government has launched a massive sensitization drive to address the annual deficit in blood units required for its healthcare system. At a recent campaign event in Alausa themed “Voluntary Donors, Sustainable Blood,” the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, revealed that the state requires at least 200,000 units of blood annually. Currently, the state has achieved about 70% of this target, leaving a critical gap that must be filled through voluntary donations.

Prof. Abayomi described blood as a "liquid organ," stressing that transfusion is a medical procedure as significant as organ transplantation. He emphasized that the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) maintains the highest scientific protocols to ensure that every unit of blood is safe for both the donor and the recipient. The campaign specifically targets healthy young residents to cultivate a lifelong culture of voluntary, non-remunerated donation.

Adding her voice to the call, the Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, noted that the demand for blood is constant due to daily emergencies, including childbirth complications and road accidents. She highlighted that the administration has modernized the process through digitization, allowing for better tracking and safety. This technological shift is intended to build public confidence in the system and eliminate the need for "replacement" donations during emergencies.

​The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Dayo Lajide, and the Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, both addressed the persistent myths that discourage potential donors. They explained that the campaign is moving directly into communities and government offices to lead by example. By making the process transparent and accessible through digital platforms, the state hopes to make blood donation a routine civic duty for all eligible citizens.

The event featured testimonials from long-term donors like Alhaji Oladele Asalejo, who has donated for over 15 years, proving the health benefits and safety of the practice. The state government remains focused on ensuring that no resident loses their life due to a lack of safe blood. The month-long awareness drive continues with one-on-one sessions and mobile blood collection units stationed across key locations in Lagos.