The Lagos State Government has renewed its push to secure a safe, adequate, and sustainable blood supply with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) Voluntary Blood Donation Awareness and One-to-One Sensitization Campaign held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Lagos State Government Secretariat Community, Alausa-Ikeja.

The campaign, themed “Voluntary Donors, Sustainable Blood: Securing Lagos State’s Blood Supply,” formed part of activities marking the LSBTS Blood Awareness Month and underscored the state’s sustained efforts to promote a culture of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation among residents.

Declaring the event open, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos, with an estimated population of about 30 million people, requires between 200,000 and 250,000 units of blood annually to meet its healthcare needs, stressing that voluntary donation remains the safest and most sustainable source.

Prof. Abayomi disclosed that the state recorded about 141,000 units of blood in the last cycle; approximately 70 per cent of the target, commending Lagosians who voluntarily donated blood and save lives in times of medical emergencies.

He described blood as a “liquid organ,” emphasizing that blood transfusion is comparable to organ transplantation and must therefore follow strict scientific protocols, including rigorous screening and precise donor-recipient matching, to prevent complications and transfusion-related infections.

The Commissioner reassured residents that blood donation poses no health risk to eligible, healthy donors, urging especially young people to make blood donation a regular habit, noting that every pint donated translates directly into lives saved across the state’s health facilities.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, said the demand for blood is constant and cuts across emergencies such as childbirth complications, road traffic accidents, surgeries, and other critical medical conditions that occur daily.

Dr. Ogunyemi noted that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has modernized blood transfusion services in Lagos through digitization, improved tracking systems, and strengthened safety protocols to guarantee that only screened and safe blood is made available to patients.

She stressed that not all prospective donors are accepted, explaining that robust screening processes are in place to protect both donors and recipients, while continuous training of laboratory and transfusion personnel ensures adherence to global best practices.

Reiterating that blood donation is a daily necessity and not a seasonal activity, the Special Adviser called on residents to overcome fears and myths surrounding blood donation, assuring that public confidence remains central to sustaining the state’s blood supply.

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

Dr. Lajide noted that blood demand often spikes during festive periods due to increased mobility and accidents, but emphasized that the need persists throughout the year, making continuous donation campaigns essential for health system resilience.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, decried the persistent myths and misconceptions that discourage blood donation in Nigeria, even as medical emergencies, deliveries, and accidents continue unabated every day.

Dr. Osikomaiya explained that the campaign was designed to take advocacy directly to the community, beginning with government offices, MDAs, and public spaces, as part of efforts to lead by example and stimulate wider public participation.

She disclosed that LSBTS is strengthening one-on-one sensitization this year to address individual concerns, while opening its facilities to the public to improve transparency around blood collection, testing, processing, and storage.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, said the campaign also aligns with global blood donation advocacy, noting that LSBTS has expanded digital platforms to enable residents easily access information on where and how to donate blood year-round.

Dr. Adeyemi urged collective responsibility in safeguarding Lagos State’s blood supply, stressing that blood donation should be a continuous civic duty rather than a one-off activity tied to specific campaigns.

Highlighting the human impact of voluntary donation, a donor, Mohammed Asalejo said he has been donating blood since 2022, adding that the experience has improved his sense of well-being and inspired him to encourage others to donate.

Another donor, Alhaji Oladele Asalejo, who has donated blood for over 15 years, described blood donation as beneficial both medically and socially, urging residents not to shy away from donating, as it promotes personal health while saving lives.

The event featured awareness talks, donor mobilization, voluntary blood donation, extensive one-on-one sensitization and pasting of information stickers on cars, with participation from key officials of the Ministry of Health and LSBTS staff, as Lagos State intensifies efforts to secure a reliable and safe blood supply for its growing population.

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