CEM REPORT | The National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to health facilities in the country to register their blood bank facilities with the commission or face sanctions.
The commission said unregistered blood services posed a health risk to Nigerians.
This is according to the Acting Director-General of the commission, Omale Amedu, Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the implementation of the NBSC blood service regulatory policies.
Amedu said blood banks were expected to register with the commission to ensure appropriate regulation and coordination of safe and quality blood and blood products.
“No blood shall be transfused anywhere in Nigeria without the NBSC seal of accreditation.
“Anyone receiving blood or blood product transfusion in any Nigerian health facility must ask to see the NBSC seal and without it, do not accept because it is not safe.”
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The Acting DG noted that rigorous processes were involved to provide safe and quality blood and blood products, in terms of donor selection, technical aspects of the collection, storage, appropriate testing technology, cold-chain system, distribution and client protection, as well as disposal of waste products.
He however lamented that over 90 percent of health facilities in the country were still practising “sharp” and unsafe blood transfusion practices, exposing people to HIV, hepatitis, syphilis and others.
He added that the registration would curb the proliferation of such practice.
