By Ojoma Akor
The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health has enjoined media houses to improve reporting on voluntary blood donation.
The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, stated this in Abuja during the 2025 National Blood Donor Day programme, themed “From Headiness to Lifelines: Media Advocacy for Voluntary Blood Donation”. It was organised by the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA)
Represented by the director of the ministry’s hospital services, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh, he said doing so was critical to improving the voluntary blood donation drive in the country.
He said Nigeria faces a persistent shortage of voluntary blood donation, adding that this gap continues to put mothers, children, accident victims, and patients with chronic conditions at serious risk.
While noting that the solution is within reach because it depends on people, he said it requires citizens to step forward and donate voluntarily, consistently, safely, and generously.
He said citizens act based on what they know, believe, and trust. According to him, this is where media professionals, including editors, broadcasters, and digital influencers, remain essential.
He said, “I encourage all media organisations represented here today to integrate voluntary blood donation into your editorial calendars, humanitarian campaigns, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and human-interest features. Your commitment will strengthen the resilience of our blood service ecosystem and safeguard the lives of millions.
“Your storytelling, your framing of narratives, and your ability to make issues relatable, urgent, and actionable are these tools that shape public understanding and drive participation. The ministry recognizes that no national health intervention can succeed without strong public awareness and positive social mobilisation. And so, we deeply appreciate the National Blood Service Agency for convening this strategic parley to catalyse a new era of media partnership and public engagement.”
He highlighted the need to go beyond routine messaging to adopt human-centered narratives, evidence-based communication, and inclusive advocacy that resonate with communities.
He said, “We should highlight stories that show the faces behind the statistics, mothers who survive childbirth because someone donated blood; children with sickle cell disease whose crises are managed because a unit of blood was available; accident victims who open their eyes again because someone, somewhere, cared enough to give.
“This parley offers a unique platform to co-create national messaging that prioritises shared responsibility. It calls us to reinforce a culture of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation as a civic duty and humanitarian act. It demands that we challenge long-standing misconceptions: no, donating blood does not make one weak; yes, it is safe; yes, it is needed; and yes, one donation can save multiple lives.”
The minister said that his ministry is committed to supporting the NBSA in scaling up systems for donor recruitment, blood collection, quality assurance, and supply chain optimisation, noting that government action must be complemented by public participation.
“Let us approach this advocacy not as a one-off media event but as a sustained national movement. Let us embed blood donation stories across radio, TV, online platforms, and community-level communication. Let us engage youth groups, faith-based organisations, gender advocates, market associations, and grassroots networks. Let us ensure that blood donation becomes part of Nigeria’s collective identity, something we talk about, celebrate, and participate in.
“As I close, let me reaffirm the Ministry’s appreciation to the NBSA for its leadership, and to the media community for your continued service to humanity. Together, we can transform awareness into action, action into culture, and culture into national impact. The Federal Ministry of Health stands ready to continue working with you as partners in saving lives,” he added.
The Director General of NBSA, Prof. Saleh Yuguda, said Nigeria requires between 1.8 million and 2 million units of blood annually to meet the medical and emergency needs of its population.
He said, yet the country is currently collecting only about 500,000 units annually. “That is just 25-30% of the national requirement. The result is a persistent shortfall of approximately 70-75%. Because of this deficit, many hospitals and patients are forced to rely on emergency replacement donations from family or paid donors. Such practice often undermines the safety and reliability of the blood supply,” he said.
He said that the shortage affects critical areas: emergency trauma care (e.g., accident victims, maternal and child health (especially postpartum hemorrhage), surgeries, cancer treatments, and management of chronic conditions (such as anemia or sickle cell disease).
Prof Yuguda said these figures make clear that while the need for blood in Nigeria is vast and constant, the supply remains dangerously inadequate.
Every uncollected unit translates into risk of delayed surgeries, untreated emergency complications, preventable deaths, and heartbreak for families, he said.
He emphasized that the three key roles media and partners can play in the quest for safe, voluntary blood donation include public education, humanizing stories, and mobilization and accountability.
He further urged media houses not to use their platforms to showcase only problems but also solutions.
He said, “Feature blood donation in your lifestyle sections, your morning shows, your community bulletins, and your investigative pieces. Make donor stories a regular feature, not a seasonal one. Spotlight the science, the safeguards, and the real-world impact.”
The DG added that voluntary donation is the bedrock of a safe and resilient blood supply. “It protects donors and recipients alike, reduces reliance on unsafe or paid donation, and ensures that when emergencies strike, we have the lifelines ready,” he said.
Chairperson, FCT NUJ Chapter, Grace Ike, said the theme of the event, “From Headlines to Lifelines: Media Advocacy for Voluntary Blood Donation,” is a strong reminder that the work of journalists goes beyond reporting.
She said the stories could inspire action, correct wrong beliefs, and help people understand why voluntary blood donation is important.
“Every day, many hospitals in our country struggle to get enough safe blood. Many families are under pressure during emergencies when blood is unavailable. If more Nigerians donate voluntarily and regularly, many lives will be saved,” she stated.
She said the media has the power to change attitudes, saying, “We have the platforms to educate the public, clear myths, and encourage more people to step forward as donors.”
While commending NBSA for the parley, she said journalists, broadcasters, editors, and digital content creators must use their voices wisely.
“When we carry positive messages on blood donation, we are not just doing our jobs, we are helping our country build a safer and stronger health system,” she added.
