In a major push to strengthen healthcare delivery and public infrastructure, the Lagos State government has launched the HaemoCentral Blood Inventory Management System (BIMS) and redesigned website for the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC).
The initiative addresses a long-standing gap in the state’s healthcare system; the absence of a centralised, and real-time electronic database to track blood requests and usage.
The Executive Secretary of the LSBTC, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya told The Guardian that the gap has severely hindered efforts to accurately gauge blood demand across the state. She noted that the committee has often had to rely on supply-based estimates due to the absence of reliable demand data, which makes it difficult to align available resources with actual needs.
Osikomaiya explained that this data vacuum also encourages defensive over-requesting by clinicians. Many doctors, she said, tend to ask for more blood than necessary in anticipation of potential shortages, thereby distorting the true picture of demand.
She emphasised that implementing a robust digital tracking system like HaemoCentral is critical for bridging this gap and ensuring smarter, need-based distribution of blood supplies.
Osikomaiya described the platform as a vital shift from reactive crisis management to proactive and data-driven care. She explained that HaemoCentral automates key elements of the blood value chain, from donor registration and screening to inventory management and transfusion monitoring.
With its real-time tracking capabilities, the system not only closes historic gaps in Nigeria’s blood services but also aligns with international safety and accreditation standards. Pilot deployments of HaemoCentral, she added, have already shown measurable improvements in efficiency, traceability, and clinical responsiveness.
Osikomaiya, who said the project, reflects over a year of collaboration among developers, clinicians, data experts, and donor mobilisers, added that the launch a long-overdue and will Lagos’ health sector.
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, also highlighted the personal and professional urgency behind the reform.
Drawing from her experience with transfusion-related loss and fear, she noted that the new system promises not only transparency but also public reassurance.
Ogunyemi stated that by digitising every stage of the blood service, from donor appointments and barcoding to quality audits and haemovigilance, the platform ensures safety, efficiency, and accountability across the board.
She also confirmed that the system has undergone a data protection impact assessment to guarantee compliance with Nigerian data laws. Describing the launch as more than a technological upgrade, she said it is a step toward rebuilding trust in healthcare and improving long-term health outcomes in the state.
Ogunyemi called on citizens, youth organisations, and healthcare professionals to support voluntary blood donation, describing it as a civic duty that directly saves lives.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, lauded the integration of HaemoCentral into the state’s Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), which allows for real-time data synchronisation across blood banks.
He stated that the system reflects Lagos’ vision for efficient, evidence-based health governance and praised the LSBTC and technical partners for their commitment.
