The Federal Government has launched the Safe Blood Project, a flagship initiative designed to strengthen transfusion services and end preventable deaths caused by unsafe or unavailable blood.
The programme, inaugurated at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, is Nigeria’s first national training scheme dedicated to transfusion safety.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Salaudeen Olawale Jimoh, described the project as a landmark in Nigeria’s ongoing healthcare reforms.
“Safe blood is not just a medical commodity; it is a lifeline,” Prof. Pate said. “Every day in Nigeria, mothers in childbirth, children with severe anaemia, accident victims, and surgical patients depend on blood to survive. Unsafe transfusion practices can cause harm rather than healing, which is why this project is so vital.”
He stressed that the initiative aligns with government priorities of reducing maternal and child mortality, strengthening emergency care, and advancing universal health coverage.
Director-General of the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), Prof. Saleh Yuguda, highlighted that safe blood requires not only infrastructure but also trained personnel, effective systems, and strict adherence to standards. He announced plans to expand the project across all 36 states, ensuring equitable access in both urban and rural areas.
The project stems from a long-standing collaboration with international experts, including Prof. Andreas Greinacher of the University of Greifswald, Germany. Funding support is provided by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung (EKFS), a German foundation with a strong record of healthcare interventions across Africa. Prof. Greinacher urged Nigeria to invest more in research and innovation, emphasizing that such efforts would improve health outcomes and strengthen the economy.
Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Prof. Abdulrahman Sheshe, described Kano’s selection as host as both strategic and timely, noting that blood is indispensable for surgical procedures.
At the launch, frontline doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and donor recruiters were recognised as pivotal to the project’s success. Traditional and religious leaders in Kano were also commended for encouraging voluntary blood donations, described as sadaqah jariyah—a continuous charity in Islam.
Health experts at the event hailed the initiative as a milestone that would reduce preventable deaths and bring Nigeria closer to international best practices in transfusion medicine.
“This launch represents our renewed determination to guarantee that every Nigerian, regardless of location or circumstance, has access to safe, adequate, and quality-assured blood whenever needed,” Prof. Pate affirmed.
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