The federal government has launched a new initiative aimed at transforming blood transfusion services across the country, pledging to ensure that no Nigerian dies from lack of safe blood.
The Safe Blood Project, unveiled at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, is Nigeria’s first national training programme dedicated to transfusion safety.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, who was represented by the Ministry’s Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Salaudeen Olawale Jimoh, described the launch as a “significant milestone in our collective effort to strengthen healthcare systems and save lives.”
He added that the federal government’s renewed focus on blood safety aligns with its broader health policy priorities, including reducing maternal and child mortality and strengthening emergency care. “
Access to safe blood is a fundamental right in modern healthcare. With this project, Nigeria is moving closer to achieving universal health coverage,” he stated.
The Safe Blood Project, coordinated by the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), is designed to equip Nigerian health workers with up-to-date knowledge in transfusion medicine, strengthen laboratories for safe blood screening and storage, and institutionalize voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation as the bedrock of the national blood supply.
It will also serve as a hub for research and innovation to guide policy and establish monitoring systems to reduce transfusion-related risks.
NBSA Director-General, Saleh Yuguda, underscored the urgency of the initiative.
He further disclosed that the outcomes of the project would be replicated across all 36 states of the federation, ensuring that patients in both rural and urban areas gain access to safe blood whenever needed.
The Safe Blood Project is the product of years of partnership between Nigeria and international collaborators.
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