By Daniel Edu
A private hospital located in Ago-Okota, within the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, has been closed down by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS). This action was taken due to allegations that the hospital had been collecting and transfusing unscreened blood.
Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, the Executive Secretary of LSBTS, announced the closure following a tip-off from a concerned citizen. According to Osikomaiya, the facility was sealed in a joint effort by LSBTS and the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) after a thorough investigation.
Osikomaiya explained, “A concerned citizen had reached out to us to report the unwholesome practices of the facility. Following the tip-off and subsequent investigations, the enforcement teams of LSBTS and HEFAMAA conducted a joint monitoring exercise in the area. They confirmed the unprofessional and unethical medical practices of the hospital management.”
The hospital’s closure was due to its violation of the Blood Transfusion Service law, specifically, law 10, item 31. This law mandates that no one within Lagos State can transfuse blood into a patient unless the 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 diseases deemed necessary by LSBTS.
The Executive Secretary also mentioned that the details of blood donors and transfusion recipients have been obtained from the hospital’s management. Efforts are underway to trace individuals who may have received unscreened blood at the facility. This is part of the protocol to ensure their clinical health status and guarantee their overall health safety.
