TheFederal Ministry of Health has said that Nigeria required an estimated two2 million units of blood per annum to adequately meet the blood requirements ofthe populace. ThePermanent Secretary of the ministry, Abdullahi Mashi said this in Abuja at anews conference to commemorate World Blood Donor Day marked on June 14 with thetheme: “Safe blood for all”. Hesaid that less blood was currently being donated thereby leading to avoidabledeaths, morbidity or ill health, among the women folk, new-born and children,victims of road traffic accidents and insurgencies. Mashispecifically noted that as long as the demand outstrips the supply,touting and racketeering of blood and blood products would continue to thrive. Heemphasised that the situation could only be improved if only one per cent ofthe country’s adult population commit themselves to voluntary non-remuneratedblood donation on a regular basis. Accordingto Mashi, transfusion of blood and blood products save millions of lives everyyear and in fact, every few seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood.