Lagos State Government has commenced local government advocacy campaign to promote voluntary blood donation as a lifestyle, with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) urging residents to donate regularly to ensure blood is available when urgently needed. The campaign began Monday 24th August, with an advocacy walk and one-on-one sensitisation at Jubilee Bridge and Jubilee Market in Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, said the Eti-Osa exercise was the first of 10 advocacy and sensitisation programmes planned across the state’s 20 local government areas. She said the initiative was designed to raise awareness about voluntary blood donation while providing residents with opportunities to donate through the blood mobile stationed at the venue or at designated government hospitals.

Osikomaiya said the campaign would extend to other parts of the state, including Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry, Epe and Lagos Island, stressing that the objective was to make safe blood readily available to residents. She commended the Lagos State Government for providing the funds, personnel and logistics required to strengthen the state’s blood supply system, saying safe blood remained a priority.

At MCC Eti-Osa, the Executive Secretary presented blood bags, gloves, sample bottles, donor forms, information materials and voluntary blood donation cards to support the facility’s blood collection efforts. She explained that donors issued the voluntary blood donation card would be entitled to receive blood without out-of-pocket payment.

The Medical Director, MCC Eti-Osa, Dr Olufemi Aletan, said the facility’s partnership with LSBTS had underscored the critical importance of blood availability, particularly in emergencies involving pregnant women and bleeding patients. He recalled occasions when the facility required fresh frozen plasma for patients, stressing that timely access to blood could determine whether a patient survived.

Aletan disclosed that MCC Eti-Osa had been working towards establishing its own independent blood bank and commended LSBTS for its support. He urged more residents, particularly husbands of pregnant women, to donate blood regularly, assuring that the hospital would continue to strengthen its blood transfusion capacity to support safe antenatal care and deliveries.

Speaking on their experiences, 13-time donor, Mr Olawale Alaba, said blood donation was simple and should not be reserved for emergencies involving relatives or friends. He urged eligible residents to donate every three months, describing it as a simple act capable of making a major difference to someone in urgent need.

Another donor, Mr Taiwo Abifarin, who had donated twice, said he gave blood because he believed it was a way of saving lives and giving back to society. First-time donors, including Messrs Abdullahi Mohammed, Rabiu Abiodun and Gbadamosi Sulaiman, also encouraged residents to overcome fear and embrace voluntary donation, with Sulaiman describing it as a citizen’s responsibility after recalling his child’s previous need for blood.

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