House members have pledged to provide legislative support to address funding challenges facing the nation’s blood services system.
This was revealed by Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Specialized Healthcare, Lawan Shettima, during a panel discussion aimed at fostering collaborations and addressing critical issues in the blood services sector.
Mr. Shettima said the office will be expanded to the entire federation.
He said: “That is why I think I would support them, they will acquire more equipment, more facilities and even expand their offices to zonal levels.
“That is what we are proposing. So, God willing, we will do everything possible to intervene legislatively.”
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Earlier in his remarks, Director General of the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), Saleh Yugudah, said the main challenge facing the organisation is the lack of equipment.
He said: “The main challenges we have across the country are the equipment, and even most of our centres are very old. That is why we are trying to see if we can count on the National Assembly to come to our aid so that we can get more funds for the commission. And I believe that with their support we will be able to achieve this.”
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Importance of blood donation
Donors and stakeholders highlighted the importance of blood donation, citing personal experiences and the impact it has on patients in need.
Ibrahim Adamu, who donated for the 21st time, shared his motivation to donate, which he said began when he struggled to find blood for his father in 2014.
He said: “I think the first motivation was when I took my father to the hospital and we needed blood. We looked everywhere, we couldn’t get any blood. In the end I came here, someone from the hospital directed me and we got the blood here.
“That was in 2014 and since then I have been donating blood every six months. And I am happy to donate my blood every six months to save lives.”
Mr Adamu called on the public to donate blood, saying it goes a long way in saving lives.
“My call to all Nigerians is that we must be our brothers’ keeper. You never know, it could be yourself, or even a relative. Many people are out for blood,” he added.
About NBSC
NBSC is a government agency responsible for ensuring safe and adequate blood supply in Nigeria.
Founded in 2005, it operates 17 blood centers nationwide and collects and tests approximately 25,000 units of blood per year from volunteer donors.
However, only five percent of blood donations come from voluntary donors and the majority comes from commercial donors, which poses a risk of infections.
The NBSC aims to increase voluntary donations and reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, thereby saving lives.