By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    United Nations
    4th International Conference On Financing For Development Delivers Renewed Hope And Action For Sustainable Development
    4 months ago
    The African Development Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) scale up drive for sustainable urbanization in Africa
    AfDB, UN-Habitat Scale Up Drive For Sustainable Urbanisation In Africa
    4 months ago
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    4 months ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    4 months ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    4 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    Human Rights Watch Kicks Over 10-Year Jail Term Giving Burundian Journalist
    3 years ago
    Democracy In Africa In Crisis, Afrobarometer Warns
    3 years ago
    Hopesalive Initiative for Africa
    Queen Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi Receives African Award In Ethiopia
    2 years ago
    Latest News
     South Africa’s Think 20: Experts Address How Africa Can Bridge Digital Divide And Achieving Financial Inclusion
    4 weeks ago
    U.S. Africa Command Commander Visits West Africa, Underscores Partnership In Addressing Evolving Terrorism Threat
    1 month ago
    West Africa Regional Preparatory Workshop For COP30 On Climate Change Opens In Dakar
    1 month ago
    Systemic Racism Against Africans And People Of African Descent In Criminal Justice Systems Is Pervasive
    1 month ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Tinubu’s Ambition Suffers Setback, As Coalition Of APC Groups Shift Support To Atiku/Okowa Presidency 2023
    3 years ago
    PAN Chief Congratulates Akwa Ibom Governor-Elect, Says He’s Inspiration To Persons Living With Albinism 
    3 years ago
    Rejected Nominees: Lagos Assembly Action Was In Order, Obasa Declares
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Ex-Pres. Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Dudafa Dumps PDP For APC
    1 week ago
    Senate President Akpabio Engages Young Progressives in Mentorship Conversation at the Youth House
    2 weeks ago
    Minister of Women Affairs Visits APC Youth House To Mark International Day Of Girl Child
    3 weeks ago
    EU, ADC Parley: Calls for Electoral Reforms To Guarantee Free, Fair, Credible Polls In Nigeria
    3 weeks ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Latest News
    All Eyes On Nigeria, As Lagos Set To Host Groundbreaking Giving Tuesday Festival On 2 December
    1 day ago
    Alleged N532m Debt: Court Orders Bank To Takes Over Abudu Family’s Firm
    3 days ago
    Popoola-Taiwo Legal Practitioners, Shipper’s Council Resolve 3-years Dispute Between Logistics Firms Via ADR
    5 days ago
    Final Journey of Ezinne Juliana Anyanwu To Begin January 2026 In Nguru
    5 days ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    Nigeria’s Glo(W)Ing Entertainment Industry: 19 Years Of Strategic Partnership
    3 years ago
    2023 Polls: Stay Tuned To These Channels On GOtv For Breaking News And Analysis 
    3 years ago
    Family, Friends Celebrate As Princess Zara Raji Turns Two
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    GOtv Stream vs. Traditional TV: Why Viewers Are Loving the Flexibility
    1 month ago
    Securing Africa’s Digital Future: Entertainment in Safe Hands
    1 month ago
    BBNaija S10: Joanna, Mide, and Isabella Clash as Denari and Tracy Exit the House
    1 month ago
    Akamai Adaptive Media Player 2: Bitmovin And Akamai Set New Streaming Standard
    2 months ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    Sanwo-Olu Receives TAMPAN Award
    8 months ago
    Radisson Hotel Group Announces Three New Hotels In Nigeria
    2 years ago
    Fanti Carnival Returns To Lagos This Easter Sunday
    6 months ago
    Latest News
    Faith On The Move: Legion of Mary Lights Up Owerri With Inspiring October Devotion Procession
    1 day ago
    The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church By Babafemi Ojudu
    2 weeks ago
    Ambassador Raffy Bello Greets Imperial Majesty, Ooni Enitan-Ogunwusi, As Olojo Festival Begins In Ile-Ife
    1 month ago
    Preserving African Culture: Polaris Bank , Chivita, And Danone Support CIKDAS’ Youth Literary Initiative
    2 months ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Financial Action Task Force Removes Nigeria From Grey List
    3 days ago
    Unity Bank Shareholders Approve Merger With Providus Bank
    1 month ago
    Yomi Joseph Digital Pr Launches 360° Marketing Solutions To Transform Brands Into Industry Leaders
    1 month ago
    Gov Abiodun Showcases Ogun Investment Opportunities At AfCFTA In Algeria
    2 months ago
    Intra-African Trade Fair
    Nigeria To Host Intra-African Trade Fair In 2027
    2 months ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    WHO
    WHO Gives Nigerian Laboratory Full Accreditation To Fight Measles And Rubella
    3 years ago
    European Union Allocates N75m To Prevent Spread Of Diphtheria In Nigeria
    3 years ago
    US Govt Must Heed Lessons Of PEPFAR – AIDS Society Warns
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Nigerian Academy Of Pharmacy Inducts 14 New Fellows
    1 week ago
    2025 World Pharmacist Day: Lagos Takes Healthcare To Ikorodu Communities
    4 weeks ago
    World Heart Day: Adopt Healthy Food Policies, CAPPA Tasks FG, States
    4 weeks ago
    Lagos Takes Fight Against HIV To Communities
    1 month ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: The Hidden Lifeline – Blood Security And Africa’s Health Agenda By Dr Allan Pamba
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Health > The Hidden Lifeline – Blood Security And Africa’s Health Agenda By Dr Allan Pamba
HealthOpinion

The Hidden Lifeline – Blood Security And Africa’s Health Agenda By Dr Allan Pamba

Last updated: 2025/06/13 at 6:35 AM
5 months ago
Share
World Blood Donor Day
SHARE

In June, World Blood Donor Day highlights the urgent need for safe blood for patients in need of donations for various health emergencies or diseases. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, we call on our communities to prioritise giving the gift of blood. Each of us has the opportunity to become part of a lifesaving solution.

From maternity wards to trauma units, from children battling leukaemia to patients undergoing surgery, blood remains a critical and irreplaceable lifeline2. Blood saves lives. This is not a metaphor, but a biological truth. Still, in low-to-middle-income countries – many of which are in Africa – the life-saving power of blood is out of reach in many communities.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

While global headlines often focus on pandemics or breakthrough therapies, the emergency of a safe blood supply continues to cost lives daily, and with minimal fanfare. According to WHO numbers, the median blood donation rate in high-income countries is 31.5 donations per 1,000 people, compared to 5.0 donations per 1,000 people in low-income countries1.

Having worked across both clinical and policy domains in Africa for over two decades, I’ve seen firsthand the value of lifesaving blood transfusions on patient outcomes. Every day, patients receive second chances because donors have given a little time, and innovative screening processes have ensured that the blood is free from dangerous infections.

Beyond quantity, safety is just as critical.

Screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Chagas disease, Malaria and other diseases ensures patient safety and more hopeful medical outcomes3. This demands infrastructure, rigorous screening protocols, supply chain coordination and trained personnel. Diagnostics play a transformative role — enabling health systems to screen effectively, track reliably and act quickly.

In the healthcare industry, we have an opportunity to transform blood delivery systems across Africa. Some countries, like Rwanda, have embraced innovation, using drones to distribute screened blood to remote areas4. South Africa’s SANBS sets a powerful example of screening excellence5. These are signs of progress. But we need scale. We need consistency. And we need equity.

So, how do we deliver to more patients when they need it?

We start by redefining blood safety and supply as a public health investment. We build partnerships that embed diagnostics at every level of care. We equip local clinics and health workers with the tools and knowledge to screen, mobilise and act. We shift our narrative from one of scarcity to one of solidarity.

A tall order? Well, the progress we need may not happen overnight. Meaningful change never does. Change is a process that requires willingness and agility from its proponents.

In our current reality, global funding is shifting. Longstanding donors are reevaluating their priorities, and if Africa does not build its own resilience now, we will find ourselves more vulnerable in the next crisis than we were in the last.

Increasing domestic financing for health is now an inevitable reality. Robust Universal health insurance coverage, leveraging both public and private models are the way forward. Strengthening laboratory and diagnostic capacity must be a national priority. Strategically, it is a cost-efficient investment on the path to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Countries like Kenya are showing leadership by integrating disease screening into UHC pathways6 – a fantastic step in the direction of cost-effective deployment of our health budgets.

With respect to safe blood, there are opportunities to implement Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and serology testing solutions more widely in Africa to improve our stock levels and diminish deaths related to lack of safe blood.

To honour World Blood Donor Day 2025, let’s hail the heroes who give blood, and perhaps consider sharing some of our own. As healthcare businesses, policymakers and medical decision-makers, let’s challenge ourselves to ensure that their gift goes as far as it can go.

I call on all partners — public and private, local and global — to make a commitment. Let’s muster the political will, forge strategic partnerships and invest in the whole blood-donor chain, not just the collection point. Africa needs new blood, and we are the beating heart that will keep it flowing.

*Dr Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President, Diagnostics, Africa, at Roche Diagnostics

You Might Also Like

Why Fortifying Ultra-Processed Foods Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Nutrition Crisis By Bukola Olukemi-Odele

INEC: An Institution In Need Of Rebirth By Babafemi Ojudu

Nigerian Academy Of Pharmacy Inducts 14 New Fellows

The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church By Babafemi Ojudu

2025 World Pharmacist Day: Lagos Takes Healthcare To Ikorodu Communities

INadminNG June 13, 2025 June 13, 2025
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Africa Tech Festival Africa Tech Festival Unveils Strategic Themes For 2025 Event,
Next Article Year 2025 Ken Saro-Wiwa, Ogoni 9: Let Genuine Reparations, Healing Begin, CAPPA Tells Tinubu 
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?