Health advocates warn of worsening blood shortage crisis in Nigeria

Health stakeholders and advocates have raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deepening blood shortage crisis, warning that avoidable deaths will continue unless urgent steps are taken to fix systemic failures in the country’s blood supply system.

Blood advocate and clinical researcher, Sijibomi Oladeji, said Nigeria requires at least 1.8 million units of blood annually to meet national demand, yet voluntary donations remain far below what is needed.

He explained that the crisis is worsened by misinformation, religious myths, and exploitation within the system.

Oladeji noted that many Nigerians still decline to donate blood due to entrenched misconceptions — including fears that donation weakens the body — while some religious groups discourage members from doing so.

He made the remarks during the unveiling of his book, “Red Gold,” held at the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) Southwest Zonal Office in Ibadan.

The event, organised by The Red Gold Project Team in partnership with the NBSC, brought together medical professionals, public health advocates, policymakers, and donors for discussions on the country’s fragile blood supply chain. It featured a public reading, panel session, and an on-site blood donation exercise.

In his keynote address, Oladeji said he was inspired to write the book after witnessing numerous preventable deaths resulting from chronic blood shortages. He added that the crisis persists partly because many people remain unaware of the critical importance of safe blood in emergency medical care.

He said, “People don’t realise how precious blood is until they get to the hospital and find none. Blood is our red gold, valuable, scarce, and life-saving. Nigeria’s real problem is not the absence of blood, but the absence of awareness.”

He described blood as “the crude oil of the nation’s health sector,” noting that the public only realises its value at the point of medical emergency.

“People don’t know blood is life until they are in the hospital and can’t find it. Blood is our red gold. Just like actual gold, it is precious, scarce, and must be refined before it can save anyone,” Oladeji said.

The shortage, he warned, fuels Nigeria’s staggering maternal mortality rate and leaves emergency wards constantly battling avoidable deaths, adding that the real challenge is not availability but lack of sensitisation, worsened by misinformation rooted in cultural myths, religious prohibitions, and fear.

“Many people refuse to donate because of myths, some religious sects openly preach against donation, and others still believe giving blood weakens the body. These mindsets are killing us.”

Oladeji further criticised Nigerian’s emergency-dependent donation culture, where families scramble for donors only after a crisis strikes, saying, “In other countries, blood waits for people. In Nigeria, people wait for blood and often die waiting.”

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He urged the country to move beyond its once-a-year focus on June 14, World Blood Donor Day, and adopt a 24/7 national sensitisation strategy that treats blood donation as a civic duty.

He also acknowledged efforts by the President Bola Tinubu administration, the NBSC’s Director-General, and the new national task force on blood regulation, but insisted that hospitals must cooperate more fully and citizens must step up.

In his remarks, NBSC Southwest Zonal Director, Dr. Oladapo Aworanti, assessed the crisis, saying systemic sabotage and profiteering are sabotaging federal interventions.

He revealed that some individuals remove subsidised blood from government facilities only to resell it at up to N50,000 per unit in private hospitals.

He said, “Government invests heavily to make safe blood available, but some people exploit the system. They take units out of our facilities and sell them. This defeats the purpose of public subsidy.”

He added that some personnel in blood banks collaborate with private hospitals to create scarcity and demand for higher prices.

Aworanti stressed that no amount of technological advancement in blood banks will make a difference without enough voluntary donors. He noted that the Ibadan centre recently received a new state-of-the-art testing machine, one of only three in the country, but its impact will be limited if citizens remain reluctant.

The NBSC director said religious institutions hold the most influence in shaping public perception and must be central to nationwide sensitisation.

“If you go to some places of worship, they do not allow discussions about blood donation. People listen to their priests and imams. Their support is critical. Schools can only reach a fraction, but religious houses reach millions.”

The event, which was hosted by The Red Gold Project Team in partnership with the NBSC, featured a public reading, a panel session, and an on-site donation opportunity.

Speakers and experts who participated in the panel session urge the government to adopt a year-round sensitization strategy to promote blood donation as a civic duty, rather than limiting awareness efforts to World Blood Donor Day. They also call on religious institutions to play a critical role in shaping public perception and promoting blood donation.