The Director General of the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), Prof. Saleh Yuguda, has urged increased voluntary blood donation ahead of World Blood Donor Day 2026.
According to him, the World Health Organization chose the theme “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.” for this year’s campaign. He explained that the initiative aims to strengthen safe and sustainable blood supplies worldwide.
In a message to stakeholders, he called on Nigerians to support voluntary, unpaid blood donation. He noted that regular donations help meet both national and global demand. Additionally, he said the campaign promotes blood and plasma donation while highlighting their life-saving importance in healthcare.
Yuguda said blood transfusion services support emergency care, surgeries, maternal health, and treatment of medical conditions. Therefore, he stressed the need to expand voluntary donor pools to improve access to safe blood.
Furthermore, he urged governments, development partners, and stakeholders to invest in national blood programs, improve infrastructure, and intensify awareness campaigns.
For the 2026 campaign, he said organizers will focus on community engagement. He identified traditional rulers, youth groups, faith based organizations, and other community leaders as key partners in grassroots mobilization.
As a result, he expects the strategy to correct misconceptions, improve awareness, and build a steady base of voluntary donors across the country.
World Blood Donor Day takes place every June 14 to honour voluntary donors and promote safe blood transfusion services. Ultimately, the 2026 campaign will encourage governments, institutions, and individuals worldwide to support voluntary blood donation as a life saving humanitarian act.
