The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has stressed on the need for more blood donors in the state adding that almost 2 per cent of the entire population will make adequate supply.
He said that this amounts to at least 260,000 units of blood annually to meet up with the growing blood transfusion demand at the various health facilities in the state.
The health commissioner said this while engaging the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service in a Zoom live feed to commemorate the 2020 World Blood Donor Day in Lagos.
Abayomi noted that the government was intensifying efforts to meet and surpass the requirements by recruiting and retaining voluntary blood donors.
“The regular supply of blood is essential as the lifespan of blood is very short. Each unit of blood donated remains viable for 35 days.”
He however added that the commission is working hard in partnership with the public and private sector, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and youth organisations to achieve this target number.
