World Blood Donor Day: Plans underway to include blood transfusion under NHIS
Olabisi Deji-Folutile
The National Coordinator, National Blood Transfusion Service, Dr Oluwatoyin Smith, has said that plans are in the offing to include blood transfusion under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In an exclusive interview with franktalknow.com, Smith explained that blood loss is a major cause of maternal deaths globally, adding that Nigeria contributes almost 25 per cent to the global figure.
On June 14, every year, is set apart to celebrate the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The annual event provides opportunity to thank voluntary blood donors for their gift of life and also emphasises the need for sustained regular donations in order to maintain a large donor pool and adequate stocks of safe, quality blood.
READ ALSO: Seven reasons why you should donate blood regularly
The theme for this year’s WBDD campaign is “Safe blood saves lives” with the slogan“Give blood and make the world a healthier place’’. The slogan has been adopted to focus on the idea that blood donors give the gift of life and blood donations are needed all over the world to ensure that individuals and communities have access to safe and quality-assured blood and blood products.
-Advertisement-
Smith said that the need for blood to reduce both maternal mortality and other forms of deaths showed the importance of voluntary blood donation across the world.
She said, “This sad reality emphasises the key role of blood in the provision of essential quality health care in Nigerian communities. The need to formally include blood transfusion in the benefit package of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cannot be overemphasized.
READ ALSO: World Blood Donor Day: NBTS enlists secondary school pupils in voluntary blood donation drive
Plans are underway to work closely with the Minister of Health and the leadership of the NHIS to make this a reality for Nigerians.”
According to her, about 2million blood units per annum representing 1% of Nigeria’s population of 200million people is Nigeria’s current blood estimated need.
She said one hundred per cent blood sufficiency will be achieved if only one per cent of the country’s adult population commit themselves to voluntary non-remunerated blood donation on a regular basis.
READ ALSO: World Blood Donor Day: Nigeria needs legal framework for blood safety, says Smith, NBTS Coordinator
She said various steps are being taken to ensure sufficient blood availability, quality and safety in Nigeria. These steps, according to her, include the mobilization, recruitment and retention of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors from low-risk population groups nationwide; Screening all donated blood for the 4 WHO mandated transfusion transmissible infections (HIV/AIDS 1 & 2, Hepatitis B& C viruses& Syphilis) using the 4th generation Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay technique; Engagement of hospitals (public & private) through the hospital linkage programme for data collection; and establishment of hospital transfusion committees.
Others are training of hospital’s blood bank staff on various aspects of blood safety practices; promoting the rational and appropriate use of blood; maintenance of a system of total quality management at all levels of the blood service; establishment and maintenance of a reliable data and information support system; and increasing public enlightenment on voluntary blood donation through media campaigns.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
