The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research has introduced the ‘Blood Hub’, an online blood donor management system aimed at encouraging voluntary blood donation within the nation.

In his address at the launch of the blood hub, Professor Babatunde Salako, the Director-General of NIMR, emphasized that the project was established to address the challenge of blood donation and transfusion through the utilization of technology. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving the National Blood Service Commission and the National Centre for Science and Technology Management.

Prof Salako highlighted the design of a web-based platform, with Lagos State serving as a pilot to assess its effectiveness before expanding to other regions in Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to embrace voluntary blood donation for the betterment of society and also for personal health benefits.

Representing Professor Saleh Yuguda, Director-General of the National Blood Service Commission, Dr. Ayoola Olufemi praised the blood hub as a significant step towards enhancing blood donation in the country.

Dr. Vincent Osunkalu, from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, underscored that Nigeria still falls short of meeting the World Health Organization’s recommended levels of blood donation each year. He emphasized the importance of increasing voluntary blood donors to bridge this gap.

Dr. Olufemi Amoo, the creator of the Blood Hub system at NIMR, explained that the platform aims to address issues like insufficient blood supply and data inadequacy in the healthcare sector. The app serves as a comprehensive tool connecting donors with blood banks, hospitals, and ensuring a seamless process, ultimately increasing voluntary donors and reducing wastage.