Director-General of the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), Prof. Saleh Yuguda, has urged Nigerians to step up voluntary blood donation ahead of the 2026 World Blood Donor Day.
Speaking to stakeholders, he noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted the theme: “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” for this year’s global observance.
Yuguda called for stronger public participation in voluntary, unpaid blood donation, stressing that it remains key to building a safe and sufficient national blood supply.
He explained that the campaign is designed to promote regular donation practices while increasing awareness of how blood and plasma contributions save lives.
According to him, the initiative will also recognise blood donors and reinforce values such as compassion, solidarity, and shared humanity.
He further appealed to government agencies, development partners, and health stakeholders to increase investment in blood services to improve access to safe transfusion across the country.
A major focus of this year’s campaign, he added, will be community-based mobilisation involving traditional rulers, youth groups, religious organisations, and local leaders to deepen awareness at the grassroots.
Yuguda said this approach would help correct misconceptions about blood donation, improve public understanding, and build a reliable pool of voluntary donors to meet national demand.
World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on June 14 to honour voluntary donors and promote safe blood systems for emergencies, surgeries, maternal care, and other medical needs.
The 2026 campaign is expected to drive global participation from governments, health institutions, civil society groups, and individuals in promoting blood donation as a life-saving humanitarian act.