A two-day blood donation drive in Lagos concluded with the collection of 550 pints of blood, marking a significant increase in voluntary participation according to organisers. The campaign was spearheaded by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) in partnership with the Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, with corporate support from Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO).
The initiative, held over the weekend, successfully registered 550 donors. Organisers highlighted that 35 per cent of these donors were first-time contributors, a key indicator of expanding public engagement in voluntary blood donation. This turnout represents a continued upward trajectory for VCDF’s annual blood drives, which have grown from 98 donors in 2022 to 147 in 2023, 268 in 2024, and 341 in 2025. The foundation’s cumulative total now stands at 1,404 donors, an achievement that previously earned it a Blood Donation Champion Award from LSBTS.
VCDF attributed this sustained growth to persistent awareness campaigns and targeted community engagement aimed at dispelling myths and addressing religious or cultural concerns surrounding blood donation. The foundation noted that behaviour change communication strategies have been instrumental in reshaping public perception, fostering safer and more informed participation.
The 2026 drive is presented as a model of effective collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, and civil society organisations. Such partnerships, organisers state, are crucial for building a reliable pool of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors and improving overall community health outcomes in Lagos State.
Beyond blood donation, VCDF confirmed its ongoing four-year partnership with SEEPCO and other health organisations to deliver medical outreach programmes. These initiatives provide free consultations, medications, and basic laboratory tests for common conditions including hypertension, malaria, typhoid, respiratory infections, and skin diseases across multiple local government areas.
The foundation reiterated its commitment to expanding public health interventions through continued partnerships, with a focus on promoting a healthier Nigeria through sustained, collaborative action.
