As was contained in a press release signed by Boade Akinola,  Director, Media and Public Relations,  FMOH, Mashi said, “Access to safe blood and blood products is key component of effective health system and a significant building block for successful achievement of health related Sustainable Development Goals.

He said “with a population of over 180 million, Nigeria’s estimated blood need is about two million units per annum. Unfortunately, much less is currently donated, leading to avoidable death, morbidities or ill health particularly amongst our womenfolk, new-born, children, victims of road crash and insurgencies.”

He noted that as long as demand of blood was outstripping the supply, touting and racketeering of blood products would continue to thrive.

However, he added that if only one Percent of the Nigerian adult population would commit themselves to voluntarily donate blood, the situation would be address.

He therefore urged all medically sound Nigerians to donate blood regularly, “I employ you to keep faith with this year’s slogan ‘’Safe Blood for All’’, blood donation does matter, Once is good, twice is better, regularly is best”  Mashi stressed.

Speaking on procedure to establish “National Blood Service Commission”, the Permanent Secretary said that the legislative process had been initiated.

He said “the legislative process of the draft bill for establishment of National Blood Service has commenced in earnest and is expected to be concluded early in the tenure of the recently inaugurated 9th National Assembly.”

Also speaking during the event, the World Health Organization, (WHO) Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Clement Peter who unfolded the benefits of blood donation said, apart from saving lives there were many other benefits of blood donation to the donor.

According to Peter, “Blood donation can reduce the risk of certain heart diseases and cancers, it stimulates blood cell production and calories are burnt from donating blood.”

Earlier, the Country Director, Safe Blood for Africa, Dr. Salihu Aliyu called for a legal framework to centralize the donation of blood only at National Blood Transfusion Service. He said the blood donated at the National Blood Transfusion Service could be used by any hospital that required the use of blood.