Blood Donor Day: Benefits Of Investing In Blood Banks
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The National Blood Service Commission has urged stakeholders to invest in blood banks.
NBC said a Public-Private Partnership in the blood services would improve the availability of safe blood in Nigeria.
Dr Omale Amedu, the acting Director-General of the Commission disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Speaking on World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday, June 14, Omale spoke about the significance of the WBD Day.
According to him, World Blood Donor Day is held annually on June 14 to sensitize people about safe blood transfusions.
It is a global awareness of the need for safe blood.
The Acting Director-General said investing in blood services would improve:
The various blood products include:
He explained further that it would also provide an avenue for the production of plasma-derived medicinal products. According to him, this can also be sold within and outside the country.
Omale said:
“The aspect of ensuring safe blood for Nigerians cannot be complete without the private sector.
“So we need them to invest in providing blood services not just as whole blood, but as blood products and plasma-derived products.
“These products are products that are sold as drugs. This aspect is business-oriented.
“Investors who are able to put together good initiative can go into the business, where they can separate blood into its components and produce drugs like antigen, haemoglobin and several others.
“All these are sold not just in the local market, but the international market as well.
“And the federal government will collaborate with anyone who is interested through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure they fully establish this venture and make profit out of it.”
The Acting DG revealed the mandate of the commission. He said it was to regulate, coordinate and ensure the provision of safe blood and blood products.
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Amedu also called for more voluntary unpaid donors to donate blood.
He said blood donation:
Amedu said:
“Our target is to ensure those blood units collected will increase from the present 25,000 to one million by 2023 and three million by 2030.”
The D-G further described blood donation as an act of solidarity. He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to take part in the effort to save lives.
Omale said that the act highlights the critical contributions voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems.
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
