The state Commissioner for Health, Doctor Adaeze Oreh who spoke during a workshop in Port Harcourt tagged, “Safe Blood Surveillance”, organized by the Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Blood Service Commission, added that legal framework and government commitment are some of the challenges facing the safety of blood and blood products in Africa.

Doctor Oreh noted that it took Nigeria almost thirteen years to pass a law enabling the safety and quality of blood.

She said the current administration led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to ensuring that the health facilities in the state are fully equipped to enable systems that uphold the quality and safety of blood donated and transfused in all of its facilities.

On his part, Director, Armed Forces Blood Center, Port Harcourt, David Olorunfemi said the training is long overdue and will go a long way in the management of patients in the state.