The Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, in collaboration with the Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, successfully mobilized 550 pints of blood during a two-day campaign aimed at boosting voluntary blood donation in the state. The campaign was supported through the corporate social responsibility initiative of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited, and 35% of the participants donated for the first time, marking a significant milestone in efforts to increase public participation in voluntary blood donation.
The 2026 campaign reflects a steady growth trend in VCDF’s annual blood drives, which have increased from 98 donors in 2022 to 147 in 2023, 268 in 2024, and 341 in 2025. With the latest drive, the foundation’s cumulative total now stands at 1,404 donors, an achievement that previously earned VCDF the Blood Donation Champion Award from the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service. The foundation attributes the rise in participation to sustained awareness campaigns, community engagement, and initiatives addressing myths and religious concerns surrounding blood donation.
Organizers highlighted that behavior change communication strategies have helped reshape public perception and encouraged safer, informed participation in blood donation. The 2026 drive demonstrates the impact of sustained collaboration among government agencies, private sector partners, and civil society organizations in building a reliable pool of voluntary blood donors, ultimately improving community health outcomes.
Beyond blood donation, VCDF emphasized its commitment to expanding public health interventions in partnership with SEEPCO and other health organizations. Over the past four years, these initiatives have included free medical consultations, medications, and basic laboratory tests targeting common health conditions such as hypertension, malaria, typhoid, respiratory infections, and skin diseases across multiple local government areas, reinforcing the foundation’s broader mission to promote a healthier Nigeria.
