The Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service has trained 340 healthcare workers to enhance safe blood practices and ensure quality blood banking services in health facilities in the state.

Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, in a statement on Sunday in Lagos, said that the healthcare workers included medical doctors and laboratory scientists drawn from both the public and private health facilities.

According to her, the participants were trained in mobilisation and conversion of blood donors, appropriate clinical use of blood and products, haemovigilance and the role of laboratories in ensuring blood safety.

She said, “With 200 medical doctors from surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and emergency departments, alongside 140 medical laboratory scientists from private blood banks, the training aimed to equip healthcare providers with necessary skills to improve service delivery.’’

Ms Osikomaiya, who stated that the training was in line with international best standards, highlighted its role as a major activity evaluated during regulatory visits by the state blood monitoring and enforcement sub-committee.

She noted that LSBTS, established to ensure safety of blood from collection to transfusion, remained committed to recruiting and retaining voluntary blood donors.

According to her, the agency also screens donated blood for transfusion-transmissible infections and promotes efficient blood processing.

She added that the successful training underscored LSBTS’s commitment to providing safe and quality blood banking services to meet the needs of the people.

Ms Osikomaiya said that it also served as a testament to the board’s ongoing efforts to uphold the highest standards of patients’ care and safety.

(NAN)