FG launches safe blood transfusion project in Kano, to curb losses of lives
The Director Hospital Services, Salaudeen Jimoh, and other officials at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital during the launch of the Safe Blood Project in Kano…Photo credit: NBSA
… initiative to be replicated across the country.
The Federal Government has unveiled an initiative to overhaul blood transfusion services across Nigeria, with a commitment to ensuring that no citizen loses their life due to the unavailability of safe blood.
The initiative, tagged “The Safe Blood Project,” is Nigeria’s first national training programme dedicated to transfusion safety.
Nigeria has long faced challenges in maintaining a reliable blood supply, with hospitals often grappling with shortages and dependence on family replacement or paid donors.
Experts warn that these gaps contribute to avoidable deaths, particularly among women experiencing childbirth complications, children with severe anaemia, and accident victims in need of urgent transfusion.
A statement on Tuesday, signed by the Head of Media and Publicity of the National Blood Service Agency, Haruna Abdullahi, noted that the Safe Blood Project is coordinated by the National Blood Service Agency, and it is designed to equip Nigerian health workers with up-to-date knowledge in transfusion medicine, strengthen laboratories for safe blood screening and storage, and institutionalize voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation as the bedrock of the national blood supply.
The project, unveiled at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, will also serve as a hub for research and innovation to guide policy and establish monitoring systems to reduce transfusion-related risks. The project is the product of years of partnership between Nigeria and international collaborators.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh, described the launch as a significant milestone in our collective effort to strengthen healthcare systems and save lives.
He said, “Safe blood is not just a medical commodity; it is a lifeline. Every day in Nigeria, mothers in childbirth, children with severe anaemia, victims of road accidents, and patients undergoing surgeries depend on blood to survive. Unsafe transfusion practices can cause harm rather than healing. That is why this project is so vital.”
He added that the Federal Government’s renewed focus on blood safety aligns with its broader health policy priorities, including reducing maternal and child mortality and strengthening emergency care.
“Access to safe blood is a fundamental right in modern healthcare. With this project, Nigeria is moving closer to achieving universal health coverage,” he stated.
The Director-General of NBSA, Prof. Saleh Yuguda, underscored the urgency of the initiative, noting that safe blood cannot be achieved by infrastructure alone.
He said, “It requires competent hands, knowledgeable minds, and strict adherence to standards. Every transfusion must be safe, effective, and justified. By training health workers and strengthening blood banks, we ensure that our hospitals become truly beneficial to those who need them most. Together, we are building a Nigeria where no life is lost due to unsafe blood transfusion.”
He further disclosed that the outcomes of the project would be replicated across the country, ensuring that patients in both rural and urban areas gain access to safe blood whenever needed.
A renowned transfusion medicine specialist from the Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Greifswald, Germany, Prof. Andreas Greinacher, stressed the need for Nigeria to invest in research and innovation in blood services.
“No life should be lost due to the absence of blood or unsafe transfusion. When the government commits to clinical research, it has multiplier effects that extend beyond the health sector — strengthening the economy, communities, and national resilience.”
The initiative was sponsored by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung, a German foundation that has supported several healthcare interventions across Africa.
