Commissioner Donates Blood To Commemorate 2021 World Blood Donor Day
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Human Services Dr Oyebanji Filani has donated blood at this year World Blood Donors Day Organized by the Nigeria Medical Association and Ministry of Health in conjunction with the National Blood Transfusion Service at National Blood Transfusion Service, Ado- Ekiti.
Dr Filani said that he donated the blood to appreciate Nigerians that have been donating freely to the Blood Bank noting that whoever donates blood did it to save the life of people that were in need of it.
The commissioner called on residents to make free blood donation to enhance the performance and availability of blood at the centre.
He disclosed that the State Government was committed to ensuring a sustainable system that would ensure availability of blood for residents that need it at all time.
Dr Filani assured stakeholders in the health system of the State Government’s readiness to work with them on the best ways for consumption and storage of blood at the National Blood Transfusion Service office in the state.
“We are working on modalities to ensure that this NBTS is self-sustaining and serve the good people of Ekiti state”. He stated.
In his contribution, the Chairman of the occasion Prof. Fola Esan noted that blood is life and as such should be treated with all seriousness.
Prof. Esan called on the State Government and relevant stakeholders to build capacity to keep and store blood safe for use of the residents in need of it.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association in Ekiti State Dr Kayode Ariyibi disclosed that the Association was setting up a Stakeholder Committee to work on how best to make the NBTS functional and ensure that it lives up to its responsibility.
Dr Ariyibi hinted that the Committee which would be co-chair by Dr.Daramola of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and Dr. Sanya Adetoye, Director of Hospital Services and Training Ministry of Health had its members drawn from all relevant Public and Private tertiary, Secondary or Primary health facilities across the state.
Other speakers at the event which included Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Human Services Mr Akinjide Akinleye, PS Hospitals Management Board Dr. Williams Afolabi, Prof. Sanya from Afe Babalola University, Dr. Sanya Adetoye,Dr Tunde Omole and Dr Daramola advocated for Public-Private Partnership in funding and Managing the National Blood Transfusion Service to make it more functional and live up to it responsibility.
They noted that with the current economic crunch in Nigeria that the needs of the service should not be solely left in the hands of government but private individuals and Corporate organizations should be involved for better funding, management and greater service delivery.