10-04-2004, 02:36 PM
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Nigeria - Federal Government tasked on blood safety
GOOD HEALTH:FG tasked on blood safety
By Ifeanyin Ibeabuchi & Remi Ojikutu
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
In an effort to minimize the incidence of transfusion of unscreened blood in Nigeria, the Federal government is set to commence the much awaited blood transfusion programme {NBTP}.
Describing this in Lagos last week, Minister of state for Health, princess Olufunke Adedoyiin made this know during the 4th congress of African Society of blood transfusions. She further stated that the system will be based on having a national Centre in Abuja and Zonal centers based in Kaduna, Jos Maiduguri Ibadan, Owerri and Port-Harcourt for a start and subsequently at state centres to ensure further coverage of the whole country. The centres in Kaduna, Owerri and Port-Harcourt are expected to stat operations this year, ‘she said.
According to her, the problems confronting effective and efficient blood transfusion service are inadequate medical personnel and equipment, as well as poor diagnostic and procedures. She added that commercial blood donors and other at-risk-groups has been the mainstay of donation but such practice must be discouraged HIV/AIDS is rampant in the African continent, 80% of the people living with HIV/AIDS dwell in the continent and 5-10 per cent of HIV infections are through blood transfusion, she said.
The Minister posited that  nly properly screened blood should be used for transfusion sin order to limit the transmission of some diseases such as hepatitis and HIV {AIDS)’
According to her, voluntary donation should be vigorously encouraged through public enlightenment and energetic campaigns by various establishment but not for profit making organisations and other groups. This has become necessary due to the need to assist victims of road accidents, women during pregnancy complications and other medical needs especially anaemia.
President of the African Society for blood transfusion {AFSBT}, Prof. Banji Adedoyiin in his own address, urged the Minister of Heath and to hasten the pace of development of making safe blood services available.
__________________
Mr. Jan B. Wade
Blood Management Consultant
Enhance Outcomes - Control Cost
For Information Call - 360 296-1807
Email
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