FG inagurates safe blood transfusion in Kano
The Federal Government has inaugurated a new initiative aimed at transforming blood transfusion services across the country, pledging to ensure that no Nigerian dies from lack of safe blood.
The Safe Blood Project, unveiled at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, was Nigeria’s first national training programme dedicated to transfusion safety.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, described the launch as a “significant milestone in our collective effort to strengthen healthcare systems and save lives.”
Pate, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh, said safe blood was not just a medical commodity as it was 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 said.
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 Safe Blood Project, coordinated by the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), was designed to equip Nigerian health workers with up-to-date knowledge in transfusion medicine, strengthen laboratories for safe blood screening and storage, and institutionalise voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation as the bedrock of the national blood supply.
It will also serve as a hub for research and innovation to guide policy and establish monitoring systems to reduce transfusion-related risks.
“Safe blood cannot be achieved by infrastructure alone. 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 said.
He said that the project would be replicated across all 36 states of the federation, ensuring that patients in both rural and urban areas gain access to safe blood whenever needed.
