The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris, says the state government will sanction any blood bank or hospital that transfuses or gives blood that does not bear the state government's logo. According to the commissioner, the logo will establish if the blood passed through transfusiontransmissible screening to avoid infections, such as HIV / AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis. Idris, who urged relatives of patients to report errant blood banks or health facility to the ministry, also advised operators of privately-owned blood banks to register with the agency for effective monitoring and quality control.
Idris added, "We need to create awareness on the need for regular, unpaid blood donation and inspire young, healthy people who have yet to key in to start donating with a view to having a robust blood bank. "We ask husbands of pregnant women to donate blood because such arrangement is important should the woman be hemorrhaging and needs blood. We can go ahead using screened blood donated through this method to save lives."
Source:MWN