2021 Budget: We Need N3.7bn To Procure Quality Blood

The National Coordinator of National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), Dr Omale Amedu on Tuesday called for the provision of adequate funding for the procurement of quality blood in the healthcare sector.

He gave the charge during the 2021 budget defence session held at the instance of House Committee on Health Services and disclosed that total sum of N3.7 billion is required to meet the blood supply to the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

While stressing the need for the establishment of special intervention fund to enable the Agency to meet the blood demands of the country, Dr Amedu disclosed that average of N100 million per state to enable it to provide adequate and quality blood to the needs of Nigerians.

“We need adequate funding, in fact, we are appealing for a special intervention fund so that all the states can have NBTS. It is not good that some states have centers and others don’t have. Seventeen centres so far are available and the country requires more centres so that every state can benefit.”