The Lagos State Government has launched a grassroots campaign across 10 local government areas to encourage residents to make voluntary blood donation a regular habit and strengthen the availability of safe blood for patients.
The campaign, coordinated by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), began in Eti-Osa Local Government Area with an advocacy walk and one-on-one sensitisation exercise at Jubilee Bridge and Jubilee Market in Ajah. The state said the Eti-Osa outreach is the first of 10 planned advocacy programmes across Lagos’ 20 local government areas.
The campaign is expected to extend to Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry, Epe and Lagos Island, among other areas. However, officials have not publicly identified all 10 local government areas covered by the programme.
The initiative is designed to shift public attitudes away from emergency or replacement donations, where relatives are often required to find donors when a patient urgently needs blood, towards regular voluntary donations.
Speaking during the campaign, LSBTS Executive Secretary, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, said the programme would provide residents with opportunities to donate through mobile blood collection units stationed at campaign locations and designated government hospitals.
The state government said the objective is to ensure that safe blood is available when residents need it, particularly during medical emergencies.
At the Maternal and Child Centre, Eti-Osa, Osikomaiya presented blood bags, gloves, sample bottles, donor forms, information materials and voluntary blood donation cards to support blood collection efforts at the facility.
The Medical Director of the centre, Dr Olufemi Aletan, highlighted the importance of reliable access to blood, particularly for pregnant women and patients suffering severe bleeding.
He said timely access to blood and blood products can be critical during obstetric emergencies and other life-threatening situations.
Under the campaign, residents who voluntarily donate blood are issued donation cards. The Lagos government said holders of the voluntary blood donation card would be entitled to receive blood without out-of-pocket payment when the need arises.
The LSBTS also operates permanent donation centres and temporary community collection sites across Lagos. Its official blood donation platform allows prospective donors to register, complete eligibility screening and locate available donation centres.
The blood service says donated blood is used for patients undergoing life-saving procedures and treatments, including cases involving childbirth complications, serious injuries and other medical emergencies.
The latest campaign forms part of Lagos’ broader efforts to strengthen its blood transfusion system. The state has previously said its blood transfusion service is responsible for coordinating blood banks, donation centres and other partners during emergencies and disasters.
Health officials are urging eligible residents to donate regularly rather than wait until a family member or friend requires blood.
The government’s message is straightforward: building a dependable blood supply depends not only on emergency donations, but on creating a sustained culture of voluntary donation across Lagos communities.