In a landmark move to transform its blood donation and supply network, Nigeria introduced an electronic blood-tracking system in Lagos, the first of its kind in West Africa. This rising technology gives room for health centres, blood banks, and donors to monitor blood stock in real time, making the system more transparent, efficient, and life-saving.
What’s more, the solution addresses the traditional issues such as blood shortages, wastage, and absence of centralised statistics by providing a digital network to connect blood banks and hospitals across the state.
The Federal Ministry of Health, technology partners, and the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) spearheaded the launch as part of a move to reform healthcare delivery. Hospitals can input their blood stock levels and demands into a database, while blood donors can receive notifications when certain blood types are needed.
This, however, minimises the delay in emergency transfusions and prevents common issues caused by poor communication between facilities. Moreover, it helps prevent the risky practice of transfusing untested blood by ensuring only certified and screened donations are distributed.
Beyond digitisation
The digital rollout in Lagos is one part of a nationwide drive to improve Nigeria’s blood supply system. The expansion of voluntary blood donation campaigns among youth and corporate organisations is another initiative.
The National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) has intensified awareness campaigns across schools, religious institutions, and markets to promote voluntary donation over commercial practices. More Nigerians by the month are beginning to value the life-saving potential of regular, altruistic donation.
Public-private alliances have come to the aid as well, with technology companies and NGOs donating facilities and mobile donation units.
Furthermore, the Nigerian government is also investing in the education and accreditation of lab scientists and transfusion staff. Previously, blood handling was often mismanaged due to limited professional knowledge or outdated testing methods.
With support from global health bodies like the World Health Organisation and the Global Blood Fund, several centres now use automated testing kits that improve speed and accuracy.
Additionally, digital mobile technology is also helping to improve access to safer blood. Mobile apps such as LifeBank are already working in major Nigerian cities to deliver on-demand blood supply to hospitals through motorbikes and drones.
The apps use geolocation to track the closest available blood bank with the desired blood type and arrange instant transportation to recipients, including pregnant women in labour and accident victims. With the launch of the Lagos digital tracking system for blood, integration with these private platforms is expected to enhance coordination, eliminate duplication, and cover more geographic areas, especially rural and underserved communities.
Building a national system
The electronic blood-tracking system is a novel solution to Nigeria’s age-old public health dilemma. By promoting voluntary donations, enhancing training, embracing data-driven solutions and leveraging technology, the Nigerian government and its partners are making blood safer, more accessible, and more efficiently distributed.
While there are challenges, such as infrastructural gaps and widespread myths about blood donation, the collaboration between government administrators, private inventors, and civic volunteers presents a pathway towards a life-sustaining national blood management system.
While digital rollout became a success in Lagos, health workers hope other states will follow suit and build a national smart, responsive, people-centred blood services system.
Nigeria has launched the first electronic blood-tracking system in West Africa, starting in Lagos, to enhance its blood donation and supply network. This system allows real-time monitoring of blood stocks by health centers, blood banks, and donors, addressing issues like shortages, wastage, and lack of centralized statistics. The initiative is a collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Health, technology partners, and the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, aiming to improve healthcare delivery by minimizing delays in transfusions, preventing unsafe practices, and ensuring the distribution of screened blood.
The digitization in Lagos is part of a broader effort to enhance Nigeria's blood supply system by promoting voluntary donation, improving professional education, and using advanced testing methods. Public-private partnerships, with support from organizations like WHO and the Global Blood Fund, are crucial. Mobile technologies, like apps using geolocation and supporting infrastructure, further improve blood access, particularly in remote areas.
The effort toward a national blood management system encompasses not only technological integration but also campaigns to debunk myths about blood donation and involve civic volunteers. While Lagos's digital initiative has met success, the goal is for other states to emulate this model, leading to a smarter, more responsive national blood services system.
