VON D-G calls for national emergency status on blood donation

Jibrin Ndace, Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), has urged the Federal Government to treat blood donation as a national emergency, highlighting the urgent need for stronger national commitment.

He warned that Nigeria’s current blood supply remained far below the requirements of its population, stressing that inadequate availability continued to endanger lives and strain the healthcare system.

Ndace made the call at a media meeting themed “From Headlines to Lifelines: Media Advocacy for Voluntary Blood Donation,” held to commemorate National Blood Donor Day 2025, on Monday in Abuja.

The event, organised by the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), brought together editors, broadcast and print journalists, digital media practitioners, donor groups, civil society organisations and development partners.

Addressing participants, Ndace urged media professionals to give sustained visibility to the issue, stressing that voluntary blood donation was essential for saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes.

He cautioned against the spread of misinformation on social media and emphasised the responsibility of journalists to act as gatekeepers by verifying information before publication.

Ndace warned that traditional media must not allow rumours to gain legitimacy and highlighted the need to distinguish credible publishers from unverified online sources.

He pledged VON’s commitment to the campaign, noting that reports would be broadcast in eight languages to enhance global reach.

Director-General of NBSA, Prof. Saleh Yuguda, highlighted the severe shortage of blood in the country, noting the impact on trauma care, maternal and child health, cancer treatment, surgeries and chronic medical conditions.

He said Nigeria required between 1.8 million and 2 million units of blood annually but collects only about 500,000 units, representing just 25–30 per cent of national needs, resulting in a persistent shortfall of up to 75 per cent.

Yuguda also expressed concern about widespread misconceptions surrounding blood donation, which discourage voluntary donors, and urged the media to humanise the issue through impactful storytelling.

Yuguda called on journalists to feature donor and recipient experiences regularly and to highlight the science, safeguards and societal benefits of donating blood.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, reaffirmed government commitment to scaling up voluntary donation, noting that an efficient and equitable blood service is essential to ongoing reforms in emergency care and hospital services.

Represented by Dr Salaudeen Jimoh, Director of Hospital Services, he urged the media to amplify facts, dispel myths and promote positive behavioural change.

Other activities at the event included the launch of the Media Blood Donation Challenge 2025 and the unveiling of the NBSA Digital Media Toolkit for Journalists, both aimed at strengthening nationwide advocacy for voluntary blood donation.