As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Blood Donor Day, the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) has called for more voluntary blood donation, saying that more people die from lack of access to blood than communicable diseases. Director-general of NBSC, Prof. Saleh Yuguda, stated this at a press conference in commemoration of the 2024 World Blood Donor Day, themed: “20 years of celebrating giving: thank you, blood donors”, in Abuja.
The DG noted that blood transfusion plays a critical role in healthcare, benefiting patients who face life-threatening conditions. He said: “Transfusion of blood and blood products help patients live longer and with higher quality of life. Additionally, blood transfusion supports complex medical and surgical procedures thus making it indispensable in maternal and childcare as well as during man-made and natural disasters.
“Recent data indicates that more people are dying from lack of access from blood and blood products (because of RTA, obstetric haemorrhage, cancer related bone marrow suppression etc) than communicable diseases in developing countries.” Emphasising that access to safe blood and blood products is essential for universal health coverage and is a key component of effective systems. Yuguda said: “Blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system.
” 20 years ago, the World Health Organisation (W.