A Lagos High Court sitting in the Ikeja area has ordered government hospitals in the State to stop demanding compulsory blood donations from women seeking antenatal and maternity services.

Justice Raliat Adebiyi gave the order in a judgment delivered on Monday and restrained the state government hospitals from demanding blood donations from spouses and other relations of pregnant women seeking antenatal and maternity services.

A non-governmental organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had filed a fundamental rights suit to compel the respondents to stop the act.

SERAP, on its grounds for seeking reliefs, said it had received complaints from residents of Lagos about the compulsory blood donation policy of government hospitals.

The respondents to the suit are the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lagos State Ministry of Health, and the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State.

In her judgment, Justice Adebiyi said, “The respondents’ contributions to child and maternal deaths stands to reason, although no data on the child and maternal mortalities recorded as a result of the policy was provided to the court.

“A policy that will deny citizens the right to medical care based on failure to donate blood is not only unconstitutional but unconscionable and adverse to the life and wellbeing of all citizens that access the respondents’ facilities.”

Justice Adebiyi declared that the action of the respondents in demanding compulsory blood donation from those seeking maternity services was “arbitrary, unfair and a violation of their human rights as enshrined in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”

She held that the actions of the hospitals and facilities were violations of and a denial of the rights of the residents of Lagos to a system of health protection.

According to the judge, the health system is expected to provide equality of opportunity as guaranteed under Articles 2 (a), 3 and 12 (1) of the International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

She also declared that the actions of the Lagos government hospitals and health facilities were a denial of the right to life as guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The respondents are hereby ordered to forthwith immediately stop and discontinue the policy of insisting on compulsory blood donations from patients or relatives of those seeking medical care and attention before accessing antenatal, maternal or any health services in the facilities of the respondents,” Justice Adebiyi ruled.

delpee:
The problem is that there's shortage of blood in the blood bank. People in dire situations need to be given blood urgently but our society us not enlightened enough to understand that blood donation is healthy and a form of social responsibility/civic duty.

There must always be blood at hand for pregnant women who are due for delivery and surgical cases. Sometimes it's a life and death issue. I hope this will not lead to maternal deaths.

delpee:
The problem is that there's shortage of blood in the blood bank. People in dire situations need to be given blood urgently but our society us not enlightened enough to understand that blood donation is healthy and a form of social responsibility/civic duty.

There must always be blood at hand for pregnant women who are due for delivery and surgical cases. Sometimes it's a life and death issue. I hope this will not lead to maternal deaths.

ikorodureporta:
https://www.channelstv.com/2020/03/02/court-stops-lagos-govt-hospitals-from-demanding-blood-donations-for-childbirth/

noblealuu:
What do you say of a situation where someone's husband donates blood and still paid ₦7000. At the end of the day, the woman was delivered of her baby and never needed blood transfusion. Money was not refunded, and donated blood would have used for someone else. This happens in Island Maternity.

Joeboy88:
I donated blood for my sister during delivery.fortunately for us, she put to bed safely and they ended up not using the blood for her.My pain then was that I gave it as a free will donation but it's so painful that the hospital will end up selling the blood & if care isn't taken, it might be sold to someone that has to go borrowing to pay.Pls what is donated free should be give ad free to people in need of it.

noblealuu:


What do you say of a situation where someone's husband donates blood and still paid ₦7000. At the end of the day, the woman was delivered of her baby and never needed blood transfusion. Money was not refunded, and donated blood would have used for someone else. This happens in Island Maternity.

yomi007k:
Not bad
I hope they won't start paying through their noses.
We don't want to donate anything yet we want the same service or commodity to be available.
We sure love miracles.

noblealuu:


What do you say of a situation where someone's husband donates blood and still paid ₦7000. At the end of the day, the woman was delivered of her baby and never needed blood transfusion. Money was not refunded, and donated blood would have used for someone else. This happens in Island Maternity.

delpee:
The problem is that there's shortage of blood in the blood bank. People in dire situations need to be given blood urgently but our society us not enlightened enough to understand that blood donation is healthy and a form of social responsibility/civic duty.

There must always be blood at hand for pregnant women who are due for delivery and surgical cases. Sometimes it's a life and death issue. I hope this will not lead to maternal deaths.

ikorodureporta:
https://www.channelstv.com/2020/03/02/court-stops-lagos-govt-hospitals-from-demanding-blood-donations-for-childbirth/

yomi007k:


Not bad

I hope they won't start paying through their noses.

We don't want to donate anything yet we want the same service or commodity to be available.
We sure love miracles.

munas:


Paying through their nose is not even the issue,the issue is availability of blood.

What is they have the money and need 6 pints if blood urgently and the blood is nowhere to be found?

Any body that applauds this judgment does not know how many women and children died due to non availabilty of fresh blood.

SeunStats:
I donate blood monthly....after i went 4 checkup at a hospital and d doc told me i got too much of blood...

Sterope:
The Judge wasn't thinking clearly. It is better to be safe than sorry.

noblealuu:


What do you say of a situation where someone's husband donates blood and still paid ₦7000. At the end of the day, the woman was delivered of her baby and never needed blood transfusion. Money was not refunded, and donated blood would have used for someone else. This happens in Island Maternity.