The Kwara State Government has inaugurated a State Blood Transfusion Committee to guarantee safe, adequate, and timely blood supply for residents and reinforce the state's drive to reduce preventable deaths.

Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, Commissioner for Health, performed the inauguration at the Ministry of Health and described the committee's creation as both timely and vital.

She stressed that the initiative is a cornerstone of the administration's strategy to slash maternal mortality and other fatalities caused by shortages of safe blood.

While acknowledging that the preparatory process had been lengthy, Dr El-Imam expressed delight at reaching this milestone and urged committee members to recognise the gravity of their mandate.

The Commissioner emphasised that while individual clinicians save one life at a time, the committee's work will save many lives simultaneously by building a robust, efficient blood transfusion system across Kwara State.

According to the Commissioner,"You are not screening blood for one person; you are building a system that will save many lives at the same time".

Dr. El-Imam assured the committee of the Ministry's support to establish a functional, reliable, and sustainable blood transfusion system for the State.

She also expressed optimism that their work would lead to a long-term, full-scale structure capable of guaranteeing safe blood availability whenever it is needed.

In his remarks, the Committee Chairman, Dr. Sanni Musa, thanked the State Government for the confidence reposed on the team, pledging that the committee would immediately begin work and make tangible progress within a short period.