Lagos State Government and Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, condemned commercial blood donation in the country, saying that it was against the Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donation, VNRBD, approved by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
Speaking at different fora to mark the World Blood Donor Day, WBDD, today, the state government and NMA, said though voluntary donation was low in Nigeria, donation for commercial purpose portended a great danger to provision of an effective and efficient blood transfusion system in the country.
At a briefing, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, faulted blood donation for non-altruistic reasons, warning that the state would, if notified, clampdown on any centre that perpetrated such act in Lagos.
On the theme of this year’s celebration tagged: “Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood” Idris lamented that “only approximately 8 per cent of all the blood transfused is from voluntary donations adding that it is a far cry from the 100 per cent target set by the WHO for the whole world to achieve by 2020”
However, there is a School of thought which opposes the stand of Lagos State Government and NMA, stating that the two institutions place huge amount on blood transfusion in their facilities for patients, asking why do they collect money for transfusion, after they have got the blood free of charge?
... So is it wise for the government to collect blood donation and sell to patients on huge amount?
Happy World Blood Donor Day, WBDD !
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