Lagos Leads Africa's First-Ever Continental Blood Donation Day

Lagos State demonstrated impressive mobilization on a Saturday to join other African nations in commemorating "Red Saturday," the continent's first-ever coordinated blood donation drive designed to significantly boost the availability of safe blood across the region. The Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) led a multi-center mobilization effort, with the exercise taking place simultaneously across General Hospitals, partner NGOs, and designated community centers, drawing a strong turnout of voluntary donors ready to save lives.

Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, Executive Secretary of the LSBTS, monitored the drive across various locations and described Red Saturday as a crucial "pan-African initiative" promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation. She noted that the timing was critical, as voluntary donations typically decline towards the end of the year. Dr. Osikomaiya explained that the blood collected during the drive would help stabilize Lagos’ supply for at least 35 days, meeting the anticipated surge in medical needs throughout December and contributing significantly to the national target of 10,000 units set by the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA).

​The drive, coordinated by the African Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT) and NBSA, saw Lagos play a leading role, involving its State Blood Transfusion Service, teaching hospitals, and private facilities. The Head of Donor Recruitment at LSBTS, Mrs. Olayinka Animashaun, emphasized that the maiden continental celebration was not just about participation but about full-scale mobilization to achieve the national target. She underscored that building a culture of regular voluntary donation is paramount to ensuring the state maintains an adequate and safe blood supply for emergencies, childbirth, and surgeries year-round.

​Voluntary donors interviewed across centers, such as educator Oladayo Kehinde Popoola and businessman Norbert Chidi Obata at Gbagada General Hospital, expressed strong belief in the civic responsibility of blood donation. Popoola, a repeat donor, emphasized, "You don’t know whose life you might be saving," while Obata noted that his participation was driven by understanding that shortages often lead to avoidable deaths. Furthermore, community donor Mr. Wasiu Ogunwoolu, Chairman of Omologede Estate CDA, recounted how previous donations had personally improved his health, encouraging others to participate.

​Organizers concluded that the success of the multi-center drive underscored the importance of strategic public sensitization and community partnership in addressing Lagos’ blood needs and strengthening emergency preparedness. As Lagos joins the rest of Africa in marking this inaugural event, the momentum gained from Red Saturday is expected to feed into long-term efforts to expand the state’s voluntary blood donor base, reduce dependency on family replacement donations, and solidify Lagos’ leadership in safe blood management within Nigeria and across the continent.