Today, I had the opportunity to meet with officials from the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS). These are passionate Nigerians whose work often goes unnoticed - but whose impact is felt everyday by patients all around Nigeria.

I would like to commend the Honorable Minister for Health for his constant support to the NBTS - a program that has rallied everyday Nigerians into contributing blood for the fellow citizens.

To operate at optimum capacity, the NBTS in Abuja requires donations of at least 4000 units of blood. Currently, they average just over 600 units per month. In this regard, it is important that prominent Nigerians from all over the country take the lead to encourage the citizenry about the positive impacts of donating blood.

In a similar light, His Excellency, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed must be applauded for taking the significant step of beginning the process of setting up a Kwara State blood transfusion service. I believe that with the implementation of such a program, many lives can be saved.

As announced by the Honourable Minister for Health last year, a bill to aid in the implementation and coordination of the National Blood Transfusion Service nationwide is currently in the works. The bill would help create a centralized system for the screening and testing of blood, as well as establish links between hospitals in urban and rural areas. Once this bill reaches the Senate, I promise to do everything in my power to fast-track its passage by rallying my colleagues to the cause, so that we can get more blood for our hospital patients.

May Allah continue to give us the strength to work towards the development of our great nation Nigeria.