The Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to secure a safe, adequate, and sustainable blood supply with the launch of a Voluntary Blood Donation Awareness and One-on-One Sensitization Campaign by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS).
The campaign, held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Lagos State Government Secretariat Community, Alausa-Ikeja, is part of activities marking the LSBTS Blood Awareness Month.
It is aimed at strengthening a culture of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation among residents.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos State, with an estimated population of about 30 million people, requires between 200,000 and 250,000 units of blood annually to meet healthcare demands.
He stressed that voluntary blood donation remains the safest and most reliable means of achieving a sustainable blood supply.
Prof. Abayomi disclosed that the state recorded about 141,000 units of blood in the last donation cycle, approximately 70 per cent of its target, while commending residents who continue to donate voluntarily and support life-saving medical interventions.
Describing blood as a “liquid organ,” the Commissioner noted that blood transfusion is comparable to organ transplantation and must follow strict scientific standards.
These include thorough screening, proper matching, and adherence to safety protocols to prevent transfusion-related complications and infections.
He assured residents that blood donation is safe for eligible and healthy individuals, encouraging young people in particular to make it a regular civic habit, as every unit donated directly translates to lives saved across health facilities in the state.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, said the demand for blood is constant, driven by daily medical needs such as childbirth complications, road traffic accidents, surgeries, and other emergencies.
She explained that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has modernized blood transfusion services through digitization, improved tracking systems, and enhanced safety standards to ensure that only screened and safe blood reaches patients.
Dr. Ogunyemi added that not all intending donors are accepted, noting that comprehensive screening processes are in place to protect both donors and recipients.
She also emphasized continuous training for transfusion and laboratory personnel to ensure compliance with global best practices.
Reiterating that blood donation is a year-round necessity, she urged residents to dispel fears and misconceptions, stressing that public trust and participation are critical 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 dedication, describing blood as a critical resource that underpins effective healthcare delivery.
Dr. Lajide observed that while demand for blood often increases during festive periods due to higher mobility and accident rates, the need remains constant throughout the year, making sustained donation campaigns essential.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, lamented the persistence of myths and misconceptions surrounding blood donation in Nigeria, despite the daily occurrence of medical emergencies, deliveries, and accidents.
She explained that the campaign is designed to take advocacy directly to communities, starting with government offices, MDAs, and public spaces, to encourage leadership by example and stimulate broader public participation.
According to her, LSBTS is strengthening one-on-one sensitization efforts to address individual concerns, while opening its facilities to the public to enhance transparency around blood collection, testing, processing, and storage.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, noted that the campaign aligns with global blood donation advocacy and highlighted the expansion of LSBTS digital platforms to provide residents with easy access to information on blood donation locations and procedures year-round.
She stressed that safeguarding the state’s blood supply is a shared responsibility and urged residents to see blood donation as an ongoing civic duty rather than a one-off activity.
Sharing personal experiences, a donor, Mohammed Asalejo, said he has been donating blood since 2022, adding that the experience has improved his sense of well-being and motivated 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 to participate actively as it promotes personal health while saving lives.
The event featured awareness talks, donor mobilization, voluntary blood donation exercises, extensive one-on-one sensitization, and the distribution of information materials, as Lagos State intensifies efforts to secure a reliable and safe blood supply for its growing population.