NBTS advocate states’ participation in blood safety campaign

NBTS want states’ participation in blood safety campaign

NAN-HG-13

Blood

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Abuja, Feb. 22, 2017 (NAN) The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) has called for full participation of State Governments in the implementation of the National Blood Safety Programme.

The National Coordinator of the service, Dr Oluwatoyin Smith, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

She explained that the campaign would ensure sustainable and coordinated blood service in the country.

“During the 58th meeting of the National Council on Health, the meeting approved NBTS memo requesting State Governments that host NBTS centres to take over the ownership and management of such centres.

“While States that do not currently have blood service centres are encouraged to establish their own.’’

Smith said all zonal and state coordinators of NBTS centres were directed to actively engage state governments and states’ ministries of health on taking over the responsibility and management of the NBTS facilities in their respective jurisdictions.

She said some states like Cross River and Taraba had absorbed members of staff of the NBTS, while Katsina State is in the process of doing same.

“ So far, two out of the 10 state centres have absorbed some of the former project staff, while work is in progress in others.

“Though not much has been reported on efforts made to contribute to the operational expenses for these centres yet. We are not quite at the stage where we can be discussing efficiency yet,’’ the coordinator said.

Smith emphasised that it was important for the country to take full ownership of the Blood Safety Programme in line with the dictates of the National Blood Policy and the resolutions made at the 58th National Council on Health.

According to her, the service needs adequate funding to ensure consistent supply of safe blood, a task which requires the support of the Federal Government, multilateral and bilateral agencies and NGOs.

The coordinator said the NBTS draft bill that would grant the organisation the autonomy to carry out its mandate was being prepared for submission to the Federal Executive Council and onward transmission to the National Assembly as an executive bill.

Smith said NBTS has 17 blood centres, including six zonal centres, 10 state centres with one in the FCT.

She said donating blood can help in treating patients suffering from cancer, bleeding disorders, chronic anaemia associated with cancer, sickle cell anaemia and other hereditary blood abnormalities.

Smith urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation knowing that there are no alternatives to human blood and one would be saving lives by donating. (NAN)

OEO/DOR/MST

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Muhammad Suleiman Tola