The National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) and the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) have inaugurated a media cell to promote voluntary blood donation and address misconceptions that hinder access to safe blood in Nigeria.
The initiative was launched at a media roundtable on voluntary blood donation and safe blood advocacy in Abuja on Saturday.
The NBSA Director-General, Prof. Saleh Yuguda, represented by Dr Aliyu Waziri, head of the Abuja Operations Centre, said the agency was mandated to promote safe, voluntary and unpaid blood donation nationwide.
Yuguda commended the media for its continued support and advocacy, saying the media cell would raise public awareness, combat misinformation, promote safe blood donation and encourage behavioural change.
He said Nigeria still faced a significant blood supply gap. In 2025, the agency collected only 24,000 to 25,000 units through its centres to serve a population of more than 200 million.
“We should be talking about at least two per cent of our population giving blood.
“So there is a huge gap that we need to fill. So it is our job, your job, to ensure this is actually met,” he said.
Yuguda said the agency operated 17 centres nationwide, including six offices across the geopolitical zones, the Abuja office and the Armed Forces Blood Transfusion Service.
He added that the agency was working to digitise blood collection, monitoring and safety through its National Blood Management System programme.
“We will be able to track every unit from the donor to the person who receives the blood.
“So that in case there is going to be or there is a problem, we will be able to track that unit back to the person that donated the blood,” Yuguda said.
According to him, the digital system would provide a dashboard showing the number of blood units donated nationwide and improve monitoring beyond data collected from individual offices.
He said the agency would also strengthen the regulation of blood banks by requiring public and private blood transfusion establishments to register with the NBSA.
“We have various blood banks, both private and public blood banks. Somebody needs to regulate, and it is a function of the NBSA to regulate these practices,” he said.
Yuguda stressed the importance of media involvement in addressing misconceptions about blood donation.
“The media also comes in here because you need to debunk a lot of myths, misconceptions and so many other things here,” he said.
Similarly, ISMPH Executive Director Mrs Moji Makanjuola highlighted the importance of voluntary blood donation in saving lives during emergencies and medical crises.
She said the media played a critical role in promoting safe blood donation through public education, awareness, advocacy and community mobilisation.
“The media plays a vital role in promoting safe blood and voluntary blood donation through public education, awareness creation, advocacy, and community mobilisation,” she said.
Makanjuola added that media advocacy could correct misconceptions, reduce fear, encourage regular voluntary donations and build confidence in blood transfusion services.
“Effective collaboration between the media, healthcare professionals, government, and the general public is essential to ensure an adequate and safe blood supply, and ultimately save lives,” she said.
Veteran journalists also pledged to support voluntary blood donation through sustained advocacy and public education.
Ms Evelyn Oyinlo, a veteran broadcaster and gender advocate, expressed concern about deaths caused by blood shortages during emergencies, including accidents, cancer complications and haemorrhage.
She pledged to mobilise women’s groups to support campaigns promoting voluntary blood donation.
Mrs Bassey Ita-Ikpang, chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, urged journalists to use their platforms to dispel fears, myths and misinformation about blood donation.
“Beyond reporting events, we must tell human-interest stories, amplify accurate health information, challenge harmful misconceptions and encourage a culture of voluntary, regular and unpaid blood donation,” she said.
Mr Joseph Kadiri, president of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHeJ), reaffirmed health journalists’ commitment to disseminating accurate information about blood donation.
Media organisations from print, broadcast and online platforms also pledged to continue supporting voluntary blood donation and safe blood practices nationwide.
