Dar es Salaam — The Ministry of Health, through the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), celebrated Tanzania's voluntary unpaid blood donors at a national gala marking World Blood Donor Day under the theme "One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives."
Safe blood remains essential for saving mothers, accident victims, surgical patients, children with severe anaemia and others requiring urgent care. Because blood cannot be manufactured, voluntary donation remains the only source of lifesaving transfusions.
Blood cannot be manufactured; it can only come from people who choose to give. Safe blood is essential for mothers with severe bleeding after childbirth, children with severe anaemia, victims of road accidents and trauma, patients undergoing surgery, people receiving cancer care, and people living with sickle cell disease, among many others. It is a foundation of quality health services and of universal health coverage.
Tanzania continues to strengthen its national blood programme. In 2024/2025, the country collected 648,592 units of blood, surpassing its national target of 590,000 units, with nearly 60% of donations coming from voluntary unpaid donors.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Minister for Health Hon. Mohamed Mchengerwa (MP) thanked donors and emphasized the importance of blood services in supporting specialist healthcare.
"Safe blood is the foundation of treatment and specialist care," he said. "Kidney transplants, bone-marrow transplants, heart surgery, cancer treatment and care for accident victims cannot be carried out without a strong system of safe blood, blood products, accurate testing and proper storage."
WHO Representative to Tanzania, Dr Alex Gasasira, commended the Ministry of Health and NBTS for their leadership and paid tribute to donors across the country.
"Tonight, we celebrate, above all, the voluntary unpaid blood donors," he said. "To those here and across the country, your gift is a profound act of humanity and solidarity." He welcomed Tanzania's progress and the growing contribution of voluntary unpaid donors, and closed with a word for every donor present: "Your generosity gives hope, dignity, and life to people you may never meet."
WHO continues to support the Ministry of Health and NBTS in strengthening access to safe blood and blood products. The event concluded with a renewed call for regular voluntary blood donation to help ensure that every patient who needs blood can receive it.
