By: Hajara Usman
The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the availability of safe and adequate blood across health facilities in the state to save lives during emergencies and routine medical procedures.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on the state blood donation drive, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, described the initiative as historic and a major milestone since the creation of the state.
Dr. Dahiru said the campaign marks the first time government agencies, health institutions, civil society organisations, security agencies, faith-based groups and other critical stakeholders are coming together on a single coordinated platform to address blood shortage challenges in the state.
“This is a great day for us because it is the first time since the creation of Gombe State that all stakeholders are uniting to sensitise communities on voluntary blood donation,” he said.
“Our goal is to ensure that adequate and readily available blood is always present in our health facilities for emergencies and daily medical needs.”
The Commissioner explained that the new strategy is designed to ensure blood is available at the exact moment it is needed, rather than searching for donors during emergencies—a delay that often results in avoidable loss of lives.
He noted that women in labour, accident victims, trauma patients, children with severe anaemia and patients with chronic health conditions are among those who frequently require urgent blood transfusion.
“We want to reposition our system so that the moment blood is needed, it is available immediately. No patient should lose their life because blood was not ready. Blood is life, and it must never be unavailable when needed,” Dr. Dahiru stated.
He stressed that blood donation must remain a humanitarian service and warned against the commercialisation of blood under any circumstances.
Dr. Dahiru also disclosed that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved and is fully supporting the campaign, which will be implemented throughout the 2026 calendar year.
According to him, blood storage facilities will be strategically located in zonal centres and high-burden hospitals where emergency cases are most frequent.
Stakeholders involved in the initiative include the Nigerian Police Force, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Gombe Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (G-WIP), Boys Brigade, Boy Scouts, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Man O’ War and community leaders, among others.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Lawan Bala, described the campaign as timely and necessary in view of rising cases of road traffic accidents, maternal emergencies and neonatal complications.
He said the engagement was convened to harmonise ideas, define roles and mobilise public support for voluntary blood donation to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
“This is a critical initiative. Emergencies occur every day, and blood is always needed. We must all contribute to ensuring this lifesaving commodity is available at all times,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Dr. Suraj Abdulkareem, explained that the campaign would address both supply and demand challenges affecting blood availability.
He said the strategy includes community sensitisation, mass media campaigns, engagement of religious and traditional leaders, and the establishment of a sustainable network of voluntary blood donors across the state.
Dr. Abdulkareem added that the initiative aligns with national and global health priorities, including Sustainable Development Goal 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.
Primary beneficiaries of the campaign include pregnant women, trauma and accident victims, surgical patients, newborns requiring transfusion and individuals with chronic health conditions such as sickle cell disease.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that with collective commitment and effective coordination, Gombe State will significantly reduce preventable deaths caused by blood shortages and strengthen emergency response capacity across its health facilities.
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