By Hassan Zaggi
The National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) has warned both public and private hospitals across the country who are involved in blood transfusion, blood component and other related services to registered with the Commission within 30 days or face severe sanctions.
The Acting Director General of the NBSC, Dr. Omale Joseph Amedu, gave the warning in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said that the warning was necessary because, according to him, federal, states and public hospitals have failed to adhere to the earlier circular for them to register their blood banks with the Commission.
Dr. Amedu recalled that: “Following the passage of the National Blood Service Commission Act, 2021, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, by way of Statutory instrument issues a circular NBTS/HQ/437/111/418 of October 20, 2021, to inform Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the status change of the NBTS to NBSC, aimed to coordinate, regulate and ensure the provision of quality blood, blood products and services in line with the national health plan as well as related matter.
“The circular, by extension informed all Nigerians, especially the stakeholders and those involved in blood businesses, as well as investors in the production of blood components to register their blood bank with the Commission.
“These include the Federal, states and FCT hospitals or health facilities, as well as private health facilities, and other sole blood establishment providing and blood and blood products in the country.”
He explained that blood establishments as provided in S.48(1) a-c, (2) a-b of the National Health Act 2014, it is any activity pertaining to the use of tissue, blood or blood products removed or withdrawn from living persons, administering of blood and blood products by medical practitioner or dentists and payment in connection with the importation, acquisition or supply of tissue, blood or blood products in Nigeria within the National Health Plan.
While saying that his Commission will not tolerate any act of lawlessness and rascality which will affect the lives of millions of Nigeria at the long run, he said: “Needless to say, lawlessness and attitude of people towards regulatory compliance are difficult.
“However, when dealing with human lives, the consequences of such actions may result in grave consequences, ranging from morbidity to actual loss of lives.
“Therefore, we cannot continue to allow people to transfuse infected and or expired blood to our people. No blood shall be transfused anywhere in Nigeria without the NBSC seal of accreditation.
“Any one receiving blood or blood product transfusion in any health facility in Nigeria must ask to see the NBSC seal. No NBSC seal, do not accept the blood because it is not safe.”
The NBSC Director General, therefore, said: “I am to remind you that Sanctions for offenders are clearly enumerated in the NHAct 2014, S48(3) a-b, S49-51.
“All blood establishments, including healthcare facilities needs to be appropriately regulated and coordinated.
“Rigorous process is involved in providing safe and quality blood and blood products, in terms of donor-selection, technical aspect of collection, storage, appropriate testing technology, cold-chain system, distribution and client protection as well as disposal of waste products.
“The commission recognized the need to develop guidance on establishing acceptable system for safety in blood transfusion.
“That was why an expert committee was inaugurated late 2021 to develop the guidelines using international best practices and came up with a national guideline and regulatory protocol for Nigeria in line with WHO guideline.”
He further warned: “Consequently, all Federal Government hospitals, FCT health facilities, private hospitals, individuals and international health facilities involved in blood transfusion, blood components separation, and apheresis in Nigeria, and starting from the FCT, are to within 30 days from today comply and get registered with Commission or face sanctions as provided by the NHAct 2014 or NBSC Act 2021.
