By Adeyinka Adeniran
The National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), Southwest Zonal Centre, Ibadan has embarked on a drive to foster collaborations and strengthen partnerships with relevant stakeholders towards achieving safe and quality blood services in the Zone.
The move, saw the Agency taking its advocacy visits to stakeholders including religious bodies, security agencies, health institutions, community leaders among others.
Some of the stakeholders visited include: Department of State Services (DSS), Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Headquarters, and the Central Medical Diagnostic Centre (CMDC).
The visits were led by the Zonal Director, Dr. Oladapo Aworanti, who at the various meetings harped on the need for collaboration, partnership to achieve the vision of the Agency.
During the visit to the DSS, Oyo State Command, Dr. Aworanti emphasized the benefits of voluntary blood donation and appealed for DSS support in the wake of recent security breaches at the NBSA facility.
Responding, the DSS Director Mr. Abdulrasheed Adelakun expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration, affirming that DSS officers are committed to humanitarian causes while fulfilling their core security mandate.
He recalled his experience as a blood donor and pledged to organize a health talk for DSS personnel to promote blood donation awareness. 
A commemorative plaque was presented to NBSA by the DSS as part of their customary reception for visitors.
At the RCCG headquarters, the NBSA team was received by Pastor Odutolu, who led a tour of four key health-related facilities: RAPAC (Redeemer’s Aids Initiative for People and Communities), the Health Center, the Public Health Department, and Redeemer’s Health Village.
Speaking, Dr. Aworanti addressed myths surrounding blood donation and encouraged the church to integrate blood donation into its humanitarian efforts.
Chief Medical Director of the health centre, Dr. Gbenga Durojaiye in his response reaffirmed the church’s dedication to public health initiatives and endorsed future collaboration. Highpoint of the visit was the agreement reached on a sensitization seminar/training session to be organized ahead of the upcoming RCCG Convention.
Also, during the visit to Central Medical Diagnostic Centre (CMDC), Oyo State, Dr. Aworanti congratulated Mr. Idowu Akinbola on his recent appointment as the Centre’s Head and discussed possible areas of partnership, particularly in quality control for blood screening and staff training.
In his response, Mr. Akinbola appreciated the gesture and expressed his readiness to collaborate with NBSA to ensure safe and quality blood supply. He emphasized the importance of acquiring vital equipment and coordinating centralized screening systems as part of the Oyo State government’s broader goal of repositioning the healthcare sector for improved service delivery.
