Lagos Joins Africa To Power First-Ever Continental Blood Donation Day 

Lagos State last Saturday recorded an impressive turnout of voluntary blood donors as the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) joined other African countries to commemorate Red Saturday, a continental blood donation drive designed to boost safe blood availability across the region. The exercise took place simultaneously in General Hospitals, partner NGOs and designated community centres, drawing residents who responded to the call to save lives.

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, who monitored the drive at General Hospital Ifako-Ijaiye, Gbagada General Hospital and the LSBTS Headquarters Centre, said the initiative came at a critical time when voluntary blood donation typically declines across the state due to end-of-year travel and seasonal health challenges. She described Red Saturday as a “pan-African initiative promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation to ensure sustainable access to safe blood.”

Dr Osikomaiya explained that the drive was coordinated by the African Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT) and the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), with Lagos playing a leading role through its State Blood Transfusion Service, general hospitals, teaching hospitals and private facilities. She noted that blood collected during the drive would help stabilise Lagos’ supply for at least 35 days, enough to meet the surge in medical needs expected throughout December.

She stated that the initiative not boosts blood reserves but also expands the pool of regular voluntary donors. Encouraging donors to bring friends and family, Osikomaiya said the goal was to cultivate a culture of sustained donation, ensuring long-term availability of blood for patients who need it during emergencies, childbirth, surgeries and other critical conditions.

Expressing delight at Lagos’ contribution to a continental movement spanning multiple African countries, the Executive Secretary said the visibility generated by the exercise strengthens the state’s profile ahead of international accreditation efforts. She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for providing equipment, consumables and advocacy support that made the state’s participation successful.

Head of Donor Recruitment at LSBTS, Mrs Olayinka Animashaun, speaking at the Lagos Island centre, described Red Saturday as a unifying African event dedicated to raising awareness on the importance of voluntary blood donation. She said this year’s edition was particularly significant as it marked the maiden celebration across African nations.

Animashaun emphasised that Lagos was not only participating but mobilising across all general hospitals, maternity facilities and partner locations to achieve the national target of 10,000 units set by the NBSA. She noted that building a culture of regular donation would ensure the state maintains an adequate and safe blood supply for patients throughout the year.

She added that the initiative underscored the shared responsibility among African countries to address shortages, improve access to safe blood and promote voluntary non-remunerated donations, which remain the safest source of blood.

At the Gbagada General Hospital blood donation centre, a voluntary donor, Oladayo Kehinde Popoola, an educator, said he left work to join the exercise after being encouraged by his twin brother. Describing this as his third blood donation, he said he participated because he believes strongly in helping others, especially those whose lives depend on timely access to blood.

Popoola urged Lagos residents to embrace voluntary donation as a civic responsibility, noting that many people in emergencies rely on anonymous donors for survival. “You don’t know whose life you might be saving,” he said. “It could be a friend, a neighbour or even a relative.”

Another voluntary donor at the Gbagada centre, Mr Norbert Chidi Obata, a businessman, said he participated because he understands the importance of regular blood donation, especially in countries where shortages often lead to avoidable deaths. He encouraged residents to come out in large numbers, stressing the need for citizens to be their “brother’s keeper” in emergencies.

Obata noted that although he had never personally needed blood, he had witnessed situations where patients lost their lives due to unavailability. “What we are doing today will help others survive emergencies,” he said, calling for nationwide participation in future editions.

In Omologede Estate, one of the designated community centres, Mr Wasiu Ogunwoolu, Chairman of the CDA, recounted how donating blood in the past improved his health, resolving symptoms related to an eye condition. He described the Red Saturday drive as a welcome initiative and commended Lagos State for hosting it within community settings.

Ogunwoolu, who said he had donated blood four times, expressed joy knowing that each donation could save up to three lives, particularly in accident cases or childbirth complications. He pledged to continue advocating for blood donation within his community.

Also speaking at the Omologede Estate centre, Mrs Samiat Ogundairo, a resident, described her donation as a fulfilling act, noting that the screening process allowed her to understand her health status better. She said blood donation not only saves lives but also benefits donors by helping them monitor key health indicators.

Ogundairo advised residents to turn out in large numbers for future drives, emphasising that voluntary donation enhances both personal health and community wellbeing. She encouraged Lagosians to “come out en masse to save lives and know their health status.”

Across all centres visited, health workers reported steady streams of donors, including first-timers and repeat volunteers. Many expressed satisfaction with the organisation, safety protocols and awareness efforts that created a supportive atmosphere for the exercise.

The LSBTS teams across the state said the success recorded underscored the importance of strategic public sensitisation, community partnership and multi-centre coordination in addressing Lagos’ blood needs. Donors also praised the courteous service from staff at general hospitals, NGOs and mobile centres.

As Lagos joins the rest of Africa in marking this inaugural continental event, organisers say the momentum from Red Saturday will feed into long-term efforts to expand the state’s voluntary blood donor base. The hope is to reduce dependency on family replacement donations and ensure the steady availability of safe blood across health facilities.

With the national target set at 10,000 units for the day, LSBTS officials expressed optimism that Lagos’ strong turnout would contribute significantly to achieving the figure. Other residents interviewed said they looked forward to subsequent editions as a way to continually support the health system and save lives.

The Red Saturday blood donation drive, organisers noted, not only strengthened Lagos’ emergency preparedness but also showcased the state’s leadership in safe blood management within Nigeria and across Africa. As Dr Osikomaiya concluded, “One donation can save multiple lives, and today, Lagos showed up for Africa.”