Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has supported voluntary donation of blood, saying that blood donation is a binding factor of humanity.
Speaking during an advocacy visit by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), the Minister stated that it was Government responsibility to ensure that there was always safe and screened blood available for emergencies.
He said: “I support voluntary blood donation because it is an asset we keep; we don’t know when we will need it.”
Mr. Fashola expressed satisfaction with the enormous responsibility of the National Blood Transfusion Service and promised to draw Mr. President’s attention to what they were doing. “On behalf of my Ministry, government and Nigerians, I thank you for the leadership role you are playing for safety of human lives.”
Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator of National Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Oluwatoyin Smith stated that the organization responsibility was to ensure that there was adequate supply of safe blood for use by all people.
She disclosed that because of the importance of the organization, Government planned to make it a full commission saying, “A bill to establish National Blood Transfusion Service has passed its first reading and about to undergo the second reading very soon at the National Assembly.”
Explaining further, she stated that it was part of their mandate to sensitize and create awareness on the need for voluntary blood donation, pointing out that they collect blood from low risk population and screen it before transfusion.
She charged everyone to imbibe the culture of donating blood voluntarily, adding that, “everyone here is eligible to donate blood.”
According to Dr. Smith, the National Blood Transfusion Service was seeking collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to enable it perform effectively in the advocacy drive for blood donation.
Stephen Kilebi
Deputy-Director (Press)
