During the Awareness Walk, Symposium & Scientific Conference held to commemorate World Blood Donor Day in 2023, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, the Executive Director of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, urged for voluntary blood donors.

Dr. Osikomaiya emphasized that donating blood goes beyond altruism, as it signifies solidarity, compassion, and humanity that surpasses boundaries, cultures, and personal histories.

The event was named "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often."

Dr. Osikomaiya expressed, "By donating blood, you are not only providing the precious gift of life but also offering a lifeline to individuals fighting illnesses, undergoing difficult medical situations, unexpected emergencies, and complex surgical procedures. It's important to understand that each drop of your blood has had a tremendous impact. Your kindness and selflessness have instilled hope and provided a fresh opportunity for countless patients who depend on blood transfusions for their survival."

Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, highlighted a challenge within the healthcare sector. He mentioned, "The cost of preparing a pint of blood is one of the issues we face. The expenses associated with blood grouping and matching prior to transfusion can be quite high, placing the burden on both the individuals conducting the screening and the hospitals performing the transfusions."

We are collaborating with the government to establish a system that guarantees fair distribution of costs, where the government assumes a portion of the expenses. This approach aims to prevent patients and the personnel involved in blood preparation from being overwhelmed by the substantial financial burden."

Adding to this, Babafemi Thomas, the Director of Pathology Services in Lagos State, stated that meeting the demand for blood donations would be achievable if we could recruit two percent of the population as voluntary donors.

It is important to promote awareness among individuals regarding the significance of blood and blood products in the healthcare sector. The recommendation is to actively encourage and recruit individuals to become voluntary donors.

"I would propose that we focus on the healthcare sector and introduce subsidies in that domain. For conditions like cancer, where blood products are crucial, the financial burden can be overwhelming for an average person. Therefore, it would be in the government's best interest to prioritize the well-being of its workforce, as it directly impacts the productivity of the entire nation," he suggested.