LAGOS STATE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE PREPARES FOR AN IMPROVED MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT IN THE COMING YEAR.

November 23, 2020 - by admin - 145 Comments.

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The need to improve monitoring and enforcement in the blood transfusion services in Lagos State in the coming year was the subject of the quarterly forum of the Monitoring and enforcement Subcommittee of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS).

The Executive Secretary of LSBTS, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya welcomed the members to the meeting and reminded all the participants that the reason for their gathering was to reflect on the activities of the past with the intention to improve on them.

She used the opportunity to appreciate both the state Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo Olu and the Honourable state Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi for their immense support to the effort to rid Lagos State of unsafe blood transfusion.

The one-day event featured some presentations from different stakeholders including the Monitoring and enforcement group, blood bank operators and other stakeholders.

In his own submission, Mr Muyiwa Onaneye took the participants round on the challenges faced by the Monitoring and enforcement team.

He said that the challenges of Blood Bank Monitors are many but can be overcome.

Dr Samuel Alori, the Head of the Monitoring and Enforcement of LSBTS presented a paper on the “Requirements and Checklist for Blood Bank Monitor”

He listed the Vision of the service as follows,

To have a state where only safe blood is transfused in all appropriate health facilities.

To provide safe blood through recruitment of voluntary blood donors, Screening of every unit of blood for TTIs and efficient processing of blood, to all who require it.

To him, for a facility to be registered with LSBTS, a form must be collected, filled and submitted with a letter to the Executive Secretary for inspection of the facility.

A maximum of two inspections will be carried by inspection/monitoring officers.

After fulfilling the appropriate conditions, a letter for licensing to practise blood banking and a logo will be given

Follow up and regular monitoring for compliance will then follow

Submission of monthly data after licensing and annual renewal of licence on or before march 31st of every year are parts of the conditions for blood bank approval.

He emphasized that the environment of operation, training and evidence of submission of the monthly data are some of the areas of focus during monitoring.

Dr Akintayo Akintoba, a member of the LSBTS Monitoring team spoke on “Monitoring and Enforcement in Private Health Care Facilities”

He shared his experience on some notable observations during Monitoring such as

“inadequate spacing that makes the blood bank to share space with the main laboratory.

Dirty and untidy working environment.

Inadequate staffing. ( Complementary staff donor Counsellor ).

Poor haemovigilance system

Non existing/Poorly coordinated Hospital Blood Transfusion committee

Inadequate equipment such as lack of blood bag tube sealer, external thermometer, Digital weighing scale to mention a few.

Sharing laboratory equipment such as haematocrit centrifuge and microscope with the blood bank.

Poor Documentation and expired reagents are parts of the challenges noted during Monitoring”

Dr Akintoba warned that no facility is allowed to screen blood except those approved screening centres by the Lagos State Government.

The last presentation, “Ensuring Compliance to Blood Bank Regulatory Standards in Lagos State” was delivered by Comrade Olatunji Tajudeen, the Director Medical Laboratory Services in Lagos State.

According to him the risk associated with blood transfusion can be significantly reduced by the COMPLIANCE and co-operation of ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND KEY PLAYERS

At the end of the meeting, the Executive Secretary, Dr Osikomaiya summarized the aggregated opinions to the participants as follows

LSBTS customized jackets will be provided for the members of the Monitoring and enforcement team.
There will be an increased advocacy among the team, the stakeholders and the public
Emphasis will be on proper documentation as an essential component of blood banking procedure.
Automation of blood screening in the state is a desire of the Executive Secretary.
Guidelines for blood transfusion services will be made available for all.