On June 14, 2008, Nigeria marked its first official World Blood Donor Day celebration. The Federal Ministry of Health joined the global event under the 2008 theme, “Giving Blood Regularly.”
World Blood Donor Day was established by WHO in 2004, and first celebrated in 2005, so 2008 was Nigeria’s debut commemoration.
The launch included a ministerial press briefing and a national live radio program, “Saturday Morning Live,” held at the Saudi Arabia ambassador’s residence in Abuja.
The 2008 event also highlighted Nigeria’s National Blood Transfusion Service. NBTS’s first centre opened in Abuja in Dec 2004, and by 2008 Nigeria had 11 operational centres across all 6 geopolitical zones.
Nigeria has commemorated it every year on June 14, with press briefings, “walk for life” processions, blood drives, and campaigns to push voluntary non-remunerated donation.
According to WHO, Nigeria has used the day yearly since its inception to raise awareness and collect blood.
