The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives and humanitarian activities aimed at improving the well-being of Nigerians.
Emekah, who is also the Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force (South-South), Operation Delta Safe, stated this at the closing ceremony of the 2026 World Blood Donor Day celebration organised by the Armed Forces Blood Centre (AFBC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Chaplaincy (Roman Catholic), Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel AJ Sambo, the GOC described World Blood Donor Day as an important platform for raising awareness on the critical need for safe blood and blood products, while recognising the invaluable contributions of voluntary blood donors.
He described blood donation as one of the noblest humanitarian acts, stressing that every unit of blood donated has the potential to save multiple lives.
Major General Emekah said the Nigerian Army, through the Armed Forces Blood Centre and its medical facilities across the country, would continue to support healthcare delivery and emergency medical response.
He commended the leadership and personnel of the Armed Forces Blood Centre for sustaining campaigns that promote voluntary blood donation and ensure the availability of safe blood for patients in need.
Earlier, the Acting Director of the Armed Forces Blood Centre, Major AJ Adankala, paid tribute to voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors, describing them as selfless individuals and “angels in human flesh” whose sacrifices continue to save lives and improve humanity.
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According to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Nigerian Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Adam, the 2026 World Blood Donor Day theme, “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Lives,” underscores the importance of solidarity, compassion and collective responsibility in ensuring a sustainable blood supply.
Adankala noted that despite advances in medical science, testing and blood safety systems, access to safe blood still depends largely on individuals who donate voluntarily and regularly.
He therefore called on government agencies, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen support for voluntary blood donation initiatives and national blood programmes to guarantee universal access to safe blood and blood products.
The event ended with renewed calls for increased voluntary blood donation and collective action to build a sustainable blood supply system capable of meeting the nation’s healthcare needs.
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