Lagos University Teaching Hospital,LUTH, requires about 25,000 units of blood annually to meet the needs of its patients, its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Lanre Adeyemo, said on Monday during the unveiling of the IH-500 Immunohaematology System.
Adeyemo said the demand was driven by the hospital’s average daily inpatient population of no fewer than 1,050 and about 100 surgeries performed weekly at an event organised by the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, LUTH, Idi-Araba, to commemorate World Blood Donor Day 2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the IH-500 makes LUTH the first healthcare provider in Nigeria and second in West Africa to acquire the machine.
The IH-500 is a fully automated system used for blood grouping, crossmatching, and antigen and antibody identification for patients, donors and newborns. “The machine is designed to reduce hands-on time, improve workflow and enhance efficiency in immunohaematology services”, said the CMD.
Represented by Prof. Ayodeji Oluwole, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, LUTH, Adeyemo said the hospital, the foremost tertiary health institution in the country, receives referrals from all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He commended voluntary blood donors and health workers for their service, and said LUTH had restructured its Blood Transfusion Centre to align with the standards of the African Society of Blood Transfusion.
“Our work is not done. An endless beat requires endless commitment. Let today be a renewal of our collective vows: No patient shall die at LUTH for lack of safe blood,” he said.
He also called on the media to help promote blood donation awareness, urged the public to donate blood, and appealed to government for sustained investment in the sector.
Prof. Titilope Adeyemo, Head of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, LUTH, said this year’s theme, “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” reflected the hospital’s mission.
She said LUTH remained committed to transitioning to 100 per cent voluntary, non-remunerated and repeated blood donation.
“For years, we have operated in a cycle of scarcity, dependent on family replacement donations and last-minute appeals. That era must end,” she emphasized.
According to her, only 12 per cent of blood donations at LUTH are voluntary, while 88 per cent are paid donations. She appealed for regular voluntary donations, saying repeated donation was critical to building a sustainable blood supply even as the blood bank holds supply that can last just 24 hours.
She described the commissioning of the IH-500 Immunohaematology System as a major step forward in improving blood safety at the hospital.
Mr Adeyinka Adewale, Coordinator of the Voluntary Blood Donor Recruitment Unit, LUTH, said voluntary blood donors helped the hospital save an estimated 300 lives in the past year alone.
He said there was an urgent need for more donors, noting that only three out of every 100 eligible people donated blood regularly.
Adewale urged the public to visit donation centres and donate blood, while calling on the media to amplify donor stories as part of efforts to encourage more people to give blood.
Mrs Ayoba Oremosu, Deputy Director in the Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department, said regular blood donation could support bone marrow regeneration and also provide psychological satisfaction to donors from knowing they had saved lives.
World Blood Donor Day is marked annually on June 14. As part of the event, LUTH recognised and honoured regular donors for their contributions.
NAN
