The Lagos State Government (LASG) has sealed off a private hospital in Ago-Okota, situated in the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area. This action was taken because the hospital was found to be using unscreened and unlabelled blood, which was administered to patients without their knowledge.
Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, the executive secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), revealed this in a statement that was released on Sunday by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the Director of Public Affairs for the State Ministry of Health.
Following a tip provided by a vigilant citizen, Osikomaiya explained that the LSBTS, in conjunction with the state Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, proceeded to close the facility.
“Following the tip-off, and after thorough investigations, the enforcement teams of LSBTS and HEFAMAA, during their joint monitoring exercise in the area, visited the facility and confirmed to be true, the unwholesome, unprofessional, and unethical medical practices and conduct of the hospital management,” Osikomaiya said.
She pointed out that the facility was shut down for breaching the blood transfusion service law, engaging in unethical and unprofessional medical practices, and putting the lives of unsuspecting patients at risk.
“The law states that no person within Lagos State shall transfuse blood into a patient unless such blood has been screened, tested, labeled by the state blood transfusion committee, and found to be negative for all transmissible diseases, including HIV I and II, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, and any other disease as may be deemed necessary by LSBTS,” she added.
The executive secretary mentioned that they had hadobtained the records of both blood donors and those who received transfusions from the hospital’s management.
She explained that as part of the standard protocol to determine the health status and safety of the patients who received unscreened blood units at the facility, they are actively tracing these individuals.
Osikomaiya underscored that both the hospital’s management and any staff members implicated in this improper act would be subject to legal consequences.
Furthermore, she added that the agency has adapted its strategies to maintain the integrity of the state’s blood transfusion process and is committed to combating the unethical practice of administering unscreened blood within the state.
To contribute to the campaign against unsafe blood transfusions, Osikomaiya encouraged individuals to promptly report any instances of violations or unscrupulous conduct they come across.
She also appealed to healthcare practitioners and all stakeholders involved in the blood transfusion process, including blood banks, donation centers, and logistics providers, to diligently adhere to the state’s blood transfusion regulations and the guidelines established by the World Health Organization for blood donation, collection, and transfusion.