The Federal government says it is set to build a comprehensive national database of blood establishments across various levels of government in the country in order to regulate, coordinate, and ensure the safe, quality, and affordable supplies of blood and blood products to all who needs it.
The Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire disclosed this on Thursday at a one day sensitisation to share the mandate of the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) in Abuja.
The Minister said an efficient health sector requires a national blood system that is fully integrated into the health-care system.
Represented by the Technical Assistant to the Minister, Dr. Chris Isokponwa, he said the import of this initiative is that a nationwide blood supply can be mobilised at any time of critical need speedily, effectively, and efficiently to save the lives of Nigerians.
He said the universal data availability on blood services in Nigeria will aid in the attraction of domestic investment in the safe blood value-chain from vein to vein.
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He also said enormous opportunities reside for investments in the systems for well-regulated and coordinated blood collection, screening, storage, and distribution processes, and it is this enabling ecosystem that NBSC is strategically positioned to drive.
In addition, he said all critical activities within a national blood system should be coordinated centrally at the national level to promote uniform standards, economies of scale, consistency in the quality and safety of blood and blood products and best transfusion practices.
On his part, the Acting Director General of the NBSC, Dr. Omale Amedu while speaking with newsmen, said there is high deficit of blood in the database at the moment and as such Nigerians needs to be educated on the need to donate blood to save lives.
He said, having a population of over 200 million Nigerians we are expected to as a country have a minimum of 2million units of blood per annum but we however have 25 thousand save units on record.
He reeled out the health benefits of blood donations stating that when Nigerians donate blood they are revitalising their own system because as they donate the old blood, new blood cells are formed.
Dr. Amedu however debunk news of blood being sold noting that what ever money is collected, is for the preservation and sustenance of blood.
The Head Planning/Research and Statistics of the NBSC Dr. Adaeze Oreh in her remark, said every country should put in place policies, a legislative framework, systems, and structures to ensure the safety, quality, accessibility, and timely availability of blood and blood products to meet the needs of all patients who require transfusion.
The National Blood Service Commission Act of 2021 was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2021as part of the initiative of the administration towards provision of quality health care for Nigerians.
