Stakeholders Advocate Improved Funding For Safe Blood Services

Some stakeholders in the health sector have advocated that a percentage of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF) be used for provision of safe blood services across states by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).
The stakeholders made the call in a communiqué signed by the Country Director, Safe Blood for Africa Foundation (SBFA) Idris Saliu, and Maj. Iriah Samuel of the Armed Forces Blood Services, after a meeting organised by NBTS in Abuja.
“There is need for a dedicated percentage of the BHPF by the National Health Act 2014 to be earmarked for the provision of safe blood services by NBTS,” they noted, as contained in the comminuque.
The National Health Act of 2014, Section VI, Sub-section 47-57 is the legal instrument that empowers NBTS to regulate and coordinate blood services in Nigeria.
The health sector stakeholders, therefore, called for the establishment of Hospital Transfusion Committees (HTCs) to ensure appropriate clinical use of blood and blood products to minimise adverse reactions and events following blood transfusion.
They stressed the need to communicate quality standards to relevant blood establishments across the three tiers of government, as well as enforce sanctions for breaches of standards in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
They called for public health education and sensitisation, using various strategies and communication channels to dispel myths and misconceptions about voluntary blood donation.
The stakeholders stressed the need for survey of health facilities on blood product demands to achieve component production goals.
They also noted that the National Blood Service Commission Bill, when passed into law, would strengthen the NBTS mandate to coordinate, regulate and provide safe, quality blood services in Nigeria.
The Tide reports that 128 participants drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Non-Government Organisations attended the NBTS meeting.