Blood Revolution: Lagos launches game-changing digital platform to save lives

In a bold leap toward smarter, safer healthcare, the Lagos State Government has officially launched HaemoCentral, a cutting-edge Blood Inventory Management System (BIMS) designed to overhaul the way blood is collected, tracked, and transfused across the state.

The launch event, held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Providence by Mantis Hotel, Ikeja, also marked the unveiling of the revamped Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) website.

Described as a “long overdue lifeline”, the system offers a full digital chain of custody for blood from donor registration and screening to transfusion and haemovigilance, ushering in an era of transparency, accountability, and precision in Lagos’ blood services.

Speaking at the launch, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, described HaemoCentral as a crucial intervention in public health.

“This system is long overdue, lives depend on it,” she said, recounting how poor protocols in the past had led to transfusion-linked fatalities.

“People think blood transfusion is like surgery. And it is because if it’s not done properly, the patient can die.”

Ogunyemi praised HaemoCentral’s digital features, including barcode labelling, donor appointment booking, and real-time inventory tracking all integrated into the state’s Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP).

“We are not just building systems. We are building trust. We are saving lives.”

She also confirmed that a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) was conducted to ensure compliance with national data laws, reinforcing the government’s commitment to security, privacy, and policy alignment.

Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, called the launch a defining moment in Lagos’ digital health journey.

“This is not just a platform—it’s a legacy,” he declared.

“We are presenting a system that reflects our commitment to safe, efficient, and data-driven blood services.”

He explained that the system allows real-time synchronisation across public and private blood banks, aiding both clinical decision-making and policymaking.

“HaemoCentral is built into the SHIP ecosystem, ensuring seamless coordination across all tiers of healthcare,” he added.

Executive Secretary of LSBTC, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, said HaemoCentral is more than a technological upgrade—it is a “declaration that Lagos will not wait for tragedy to transform.”

“These are not abstract issues. They cost lives every day,” she said, citing the UK’s Infected Blood Inquiry as a cautionary tale.

She detailed how HaemoCentral automates the blood lifecycle—from donor intake and screening to lab testing and transfusion—with built-in traceability, audit trails, and haemovigilance.

“It eliminates manual errors, provides verifiable records, and ensures every drop of blood is accounted for.”

Osikomaiya said the platform already showed strong results in pilot deployments, improving efficiency, visibility, and safety in blood banks.

Mr. Olapegba, Managing Director of Digital Health Platforms and developer of both HaemoCentral and SHIP, emphasised the platform’s security architecture.

“We built this on the same backbone as Interswitch. From barcode adhesives to encryption, everything meets Nigerian and international standards,” he said.

Citing recent global breaches in blood system databases—including the UK’s NHS—he stressed the importance of security in handling sensitive health data.

“HaemoCentral is what smart healthcare looks like—digital, centralised, and secure.”

He noted that all data generated through the platform will feed directly into SHIP, allowing government and healthcare providers to make evidence-based decisions in real time.

The event also included a live demonstration of the HaemoCentral system and a tour of the new LSBTC website, designed to support public engagement, donor education, and professional collaboration.

Ogunyemi called on CSOs, youth groups, and the general public to embrace voluntary blood donation, describing it as both a civic duty and a lifeline.

With HaemoCentral, Lagos has become a national pioneer in digital blood management, laying the groundwork for smarter, safer, and more inclusive healthcare delivery.