Every year on 14 June, World Blood Donor Day honours the quiet generosity of voluntary blood donors—the everyday heroes whose selfless acts sustain lives during medical emergencies, surgeries, and chronic health challenges.
In Nigeria, however, the demand for safe blood continues to outstrip supply. With fewer than one in 1,000 people donating annually, the country falls well short of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended 10 to 12 donors per 1,000 population.
This shortfall leaves a staggering deficit of up to four million units of blood each year, putting the lives of vulnerable groups—particularly pregnant women, accident victims, and children under five—at risk, but the challenge goes beyond quantity.
The safety and quality of blood transfusions in Nigeria remain a critical concern. Inconsistent Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices across donation centres increase the risk of transmitting infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C.
Globally, unsafe transfusions contribute to up to 10% of HIV infections—a tragic figure that is largely preventable.
This year’s theme, “This year’s theme for World Blood Donor Day, “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives,” underscores the need to not only increase donations but also to prioritise safety at every stage—from collection to transfusion.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, reflected on the life-saving impact of blood donation:
“Giving blood is a simple but powerful act. It offers hope to people fighting sickness, undergoing surgery, or recovering from injury—it saves lives. Pregnant women and children under five are among those who most often need donated blood.
“A steady and safe blood supply is essential to a strong health system and universal health coverage. So today and every day—if you can—please give blood.”
In Nigeria, transforming the blood donation landscape demands more than improved protocols; it calls for a shift in public attitudes and behaviour.
Dr Ugwunma Nwachukwu Chinedu, Consultant Community Health Physician at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, stressed the importance of awareness and education.
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“Creating a safe, supportive environment is essential to encouraging voluntary donations,” she said, adding that lasting change requires tailored communication strategies that resonate with diverse communities.
Dr Chinedu also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in mobilising resources and expanding the reach of blood donation campaigns.
🩸Blood donation is a collective effort and a powerful act of solidarity🤲
By coming together as a community of donors, we ensure a steady and safe blood supply for all who need it. #WorldBloodDonorDay2025 #BloodSavesLives pic.twitter.com/qF3lCSDA0c
— WHO Nigeria (@WHONigeria) June 13, 2025
Although the challenges are daunting, Nigeria is not starting from scratch. Countries like Sweden, Singapore, and Rwanda have embedded IPC within their national health policies—through rigorous training, strict hygiene standards, and real-time monitoring—dramatically reducing infection rates and building public trust.
Nigeria can emulate these successes, but progress will depend on political will, sustained investment, and accountability.
Dr Muzzammil Gadanya, of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), emphasised the importance of reliable funding: “IPC programmes must not only be budgeted but also receive timely disbursement. Without this, critical services like blood screening and sterilisation risk breakdowns.”
Moving forward, the path is clear. Strengthening IPC practices, raising public awareness, and reforming health institutions will help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s blood transfusion system.
Training healthcare workers, ensuring consistent sterilisation of equipment, and standardising screening procedures will create the foundation for safer transfusions.
More importantly, embedding these efforts within broader health policy frameworks, backed by sustainable funding, will enable Nigeria to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive, preventive care.
As the nation marks World Blood Donor Day under the banner “Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives,” Nigeria is faced with both a pressing challenge and a hopeful opportunity—to save more lives safely, consistently, and with dignity.