Acute Shortages in Lagos Blood Bank Traced to 2020 Judgement

A court judgement that barred the Lagos State Government from requesting blood donation as precondition for the enrolment of pregnant women for antenatal care has been identified as a major setback in the handling medical emergencies that requiring blood transfusion.

Justice RALIAT ADEBIYI of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, delivered the landmark judgement on March 2, 2020, in a case brought by nongovernmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP.

Six years after, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor ADETOKUNBO FABUNWO has observed that the judgement by Justice ADEBIYI was not challenged, and he wondered why.

Professor FABUNWO said Lagos State is currently experiencing acute shortage of blood in its blood banks, which partly account for the rate of mortality arising from medical emergencies, particularly maternal mortality.

The Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology made the observations during a presentation at the Maiden Biannual Presidential Colloquium of the Academy of Medical Sciences, held at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

He spoke on the theme: Nigeria’s Health Sector at Crossroad – Confronting Workforce Shortages, Epidemic Risks, and Maternal Mortality.

Professor FABUNWO said while maternal mortality is a global burden, the situation in Nigeria, like is most sub-Saharan Africa, is compounded by poor social justice and economic challenges.

In his opening remarks; Emeritus Professor OSATO FRANK GIWA-OSAGIE, the President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, observed that Nigeria is endowed with enormous human resources.

However, Professor GIWA-OSAGIE said the reason Nigerians excel abroad, while the country continues to grapple with challenges, including in the health sector, is due to weak institution governed by poor political leadership.