June 11, 2026
By Chioma Obinna
On this year’s World Blood Donor Day, the World Health Organisation, (WHO) on Wednesday raised concerns over persistent shortages in blood supply across the African Region, warning that millions of patients remain at risk due to inadequate access to safe blood and blood products.
In a message to commemorate the 2026 World Blood Donor Day, themed: “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi said although countries in the region had recorded notable progress in blood donation over the years, demand for safe blood continues to outpace supply.
The Regional Director noted that blood donations in Africa increased from about 2.2 million in the early 2000s to nearly seven million in 2023, while the proportion of voluntary unpaid donors has also improved significantly.
