Court Stops Lagos From Compulsory Blood Donations In Hospitals

Justice Raliat Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court on Monday stopped the Lagos State Government from demanding compulsory blood donation from those seeking medical attention, including maternity services.

The judge held that such practice is arbitrary, unfair and a violation of their human rights, including the rights to life and to equal opportunity for everyone within the health system.

The suit was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

In line with the judgment, SERAP has sent an open to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu urging him to use his leadership position to “instruct the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi to immediately, fully and effectively enforce the judgment stopping all Lagos hospitals and health facilities from demanding compulsory blood donations from any patients or their relatives as precondition for medical attention either in antenatal and maternal or any other health services.”

In the letter dated 3 March, 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The enforcement of the judgment will be a special moment for the implementation of the government’s strategies towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it will improve the chances of everyone including women during and after childbirth, and ensure quality health services, which will contribute to the promotion of these goals.”

SERAP said: “As Justice Adebiyi stated in her judgment, your enforcement of the judgment will be consistent with Section 33 of Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), which guarantees the right to life; and articles 2(a),3 and 12(1) of the International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, which requires the health system including in Lagos State to provide equal opportunity for everyone. Nigeria has ratified the covenant.”