Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through the Koidu Government Hospital, has successfully conducted a voluntary blood donation campaign to commemorate World Blood Donor Day 2026, aimed at increasing blood supplies and raising awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation.
The blood donation exercise took place on Sunday, 14 June 2026, in Punduru Village and Sewafe Town in the Kenema and Kono districts respectively. The initiative brought together community members, health workers, youth groups and local leaders in support of a cause that continues to save countless lives across Sierra Leone.
The campaign resulted in the collection of sixty units of blood from voluntary donors in the two communities, providing a significant boost to blood reserves needed for emergency medical care, maternal health services, accident victims and patients requiring transfusions.
Speaking during the event, Lifeline Nehemiah Projects’ Project Manager, Mohamed Turay, emphasized the importance of blood donation and highlighted the significance of this year’s World Blood Donor Day celebration.
He noted that the global and national theme for World Blood Donor Day 2026 in Sierra Leone is: “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Lives,” while Lifeline Nehemiah Projects adopted a localized message, “Gi Blood 4 Save Lives,” to make the campaign more relatable to communities.
“Every two seconds, someone in the world needs blood. In Sierra Leone, blood shortages continue to place mothers, children and accident victims at serious risk. Today, our young people and community members have chosen to become heroes without capes by donating blood to save lives,” Mohamed Turay said.
He further explained that voluntary blood donation remains low in many communities due to misconceptions, myths and limited access to donation centres.
“Lifeline Nehemiah Projects works closely with children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Many of these individuals face medical emergencies where blood can mean the difference between life and death. This blood drive is a demonstration of solidarity and compassion for those in need,” he stated.
The Blood Bank Manager at Koidu Government Hospital, Mariatu Duraman, commended Lifeline Nehemiah Projects for taking the awareness campaign directly to the communities.
She stressed that voluntary and unpaid blood donors remain the safest and most reliable source of blood for hospitals and healthcare facilities.
“Community outreach initiatives such as this help us bridge the gap in blood supply, particularly during the rainy season when cases of malaria, maternal complications and other health emergencies increase the demand for blood,” Mariatu Duraman said.
The event also witnessed strong participation from local leaders. Town Speaker of Punduru Village, Chief Charles Vawah, donated blood for the first time and encouraged others to follow his example.
“I used to believe that donating blood would make me weak. However, after receiving proper information and education from the Lifeline Nehemiah team, I now understand that donating blood is safe and can help save lives. I will continue to donate whenever I can,” he pledged.
World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on 14 June to recognize and appreciate voluntary blood donors while promoting the need for safe and adequate blood supplies worldwide. The day also serves as a platform to encourage more people, especially young people, to become regular blood donors.
This year’s observance reinforced the critical role that voluntary blood donors play in strengthening healthcare systems and ensuring that life-saving blood is available for patients in need. Through initiatives such as the one organized by Lifeline Nehemiah Projects and the Ministry of Health, communities are being empowered to contribute directly to saving lives and improving public health outcomes across Sierra Leone.
