Pate Harps On Awareness To Increase Blood Donations

By Florence Adewale

To encourage blood donation among Nigerians, the National Blood Service Commission, has been advised to step up efforts at building community awareness.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate gave the advise in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the National Blood Donation Day.

Represented by the Director, Tertiary Hospital Division in the Ministry, Dr. Anoma Ogbonna, the Minister stressed the need for strategies to ensure availability and sustainability of the blood safety programme nationwide.

The Minister explained further that “With the goal of ensuring unhindered national access to safe blood and blood products, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been at the forefront to improve blood safety and availability in Nigeria, Our strategic aspiration to save lives, reduce pain, and produce health for all Nigerians is built around effective governance and strengthening supply chains to maximize efficiency and quality of our health system”.

“We understand that a coordinated blood ecosystem, In line with the National Health Plan, will be needed to standardize quality and boost synergy for blood value chain optimization.”

Earlier, the Acting Director General, National Blood Services Commission, Dr. Eneye Suberu equally highlighted the need to ensure year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion.

According to Suberu “the objectives of this year’s campaign are to: Celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated blood to start donating:”

” To bring voluntary blood donation to the consciousness of the citizens through sensitization and public enlightenment activities, and varied forms of media engagement. To expand stakeholder collaborations for blood donation across the country.”

Also speaking, Mr Mzega Michael who has donated blood seventy six times called on government at all levels to accelerate provision of more donation centres as the fifteen in the country are inadequate to carter for blood required in the country.

The theme of this year’s blood donation day is “Blood donation the real act of humanity; Donate blood, give smiles”.

Edited By Grace Namiji