The Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service has trained 340 healthcare workers to enhance safe blood practices and ensure quality blood banking services in the health facilities in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Executive Secretary of the LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, said the healthcare workers included medical doctors and laboratory scientists drawn from both the public and private health facilities.
According to her, the participants were trained in the mobilisation and conversion of blood donors, appropriate clinical use of blood and products, haemovigilance and the role of laboratories in ensuring blood safety.
Bodunrin said, “With 200 medical doctors from surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and emergency departments, alongside 140 medical laboratory scientists from private blood banks, the training aims to equip healthcare providers with necessary skills to improve service delivery.”
Osikomaiya, who stated that the training was in line with international best standards, highlighted its role as a major activity evaluated during regulatory visits by the state blood monitoring and enforcement sub-committee.
Last December, the LSBTS subsidised the fee for blood transfusions for residents. This was disclosed by Osikomaiya during a stakeholder engagement and media chat titled, ‘Role of media in promoting blood donation.’
A statement by LSBTS said the meeting was held in commemoration of the 2023 National Blood Donor Day.
