Lagos Digitizes Blood Transfusion Services with Launch of HaemoCentral and LSBTC Website
Lagos State has launched HaemoCentral, a digital system to improve blood donation and tracking across hospitals.
Officials say it will boost safety, cut manual errors, and encourage voluntary blood donations statewide.
The Lagos State Government has unveiled HaemoCentral, a digital blood inventory management system, alongside a new website for the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC), marking a strategic shift toward technology-driven healthcare services in the state.
The initiative, launched on Thursday, aims to overhaul how blood is collected, processed, and distributed across public and private health facilities in Lagos. By digitizing the entire blood supply chain from donor registration and health screening to inventory control and transfusion tracking, the government hopes to eliminate manual inefficiencies, enhance safety, and build public trust.
Dr. Bodurin Osikomaiya, Executive Secretary of the LSBTC, described HaemoCentral as a transformative response to long-standing structural challenges within Nigeria’s transfusion system. “This system is built on over two decades of cumulative experience. It is a collective effort to move towards a smart, safe, and responsible transfusion environment,” she said.
The platform automates key operations such as data documentation, donor follow-up, real-time access to inventory, and regulated movement of blood units across health institutions. Dr. Osikomaiya emphasized that the launch of the LSBTC website is equally vital, as it serves as a public education tool to address cultural misconceptions about blood donation and raise awareness about safe transfusion practices.
The rollout complies with international standards, especially after Lagos was accredited by the African Society for Blood Transfusion, according to Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health. “This accreditation not only mandates the deployment of a modern blood inventory system but also sets the stage for advanced laboratory technologies,” she said.
According to Dr. Ogunyemi, the system incorporates robust data protection measures, including secure hosting and compliance with global data privacy regulations. It also supports ongoing technical assistance, monitoring, and targeted advocacy aimed at boosting voluntary blood donations and long-term donor engagement.
She noted, “Our data privacy speaks to public healthcare; a data protection impact center ensures full compliance with international standards.”
Lagos State authorities believe that HaemoCentral and the LSBTC website will not only enhance efficiency and safety across the state’s blood banks but also serve as a replicable model for other states seeking to modernize their healthcare infrastructure.
