Lagos To Ban Commercial Blood Donation

The Chairman of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, Dr. Adetoun Agbe-Davies, has reaffirmed the determination of the state government to ban the activities of commercial blood donors in health facilities in the state.

Speaking against the backdrop of a story that exposed the activities of commercial blood donors in the state, Agbe-Davies said that the State House of Assembly would soon pass the Bill that outlaw the trade.

"There is a proposed Bill on banning of commercial donation of blood and we can work the Bill out," she said.

She said that less that 10 percent of blood transfused in the state was donated voluntarily, noting that at this pace, it would be impossible for the country to reach the World Health Organisation's target of generating all blood sources from voluntary donors by 2020.

She warned relatives and patients to stop patronizing commercial blood donors, saying they had a higher risk of contracting transfusion transmittable infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B.

She disclosed that last year, out of the 30,000 blood that was transfused, just 3,000 was donated voluntarily.

Dr. Agbe-Davies added that the agency, through increased awareness, would soon be establishing walk-in blood donation centres in strategic locations in the state to increase advocacy for voluntary blood donation.