The World Health Organisation says Africa's running on empty when it comes to safe blood.

On World Blood Donor Day, the WHO's Regional Director for Africa, Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, dropped a worrying number: the continent averages only six blood donations per 1,000 people. That's nowhere near enough to meet basic healthcare needs.

“This gap remains a major barrier to delivering equitable healthcare and responding effectively to emergencies,” Janabi said.

Here's what the numbers look like. Blood donations in Africa have actually climbed — from about 2.2 million in the early 2000s to nearly seven million in 2023. The share of voluntary unpaid donors has also improved, with close to seven out of every 10 donations now coming from people who give freely.

But demand is growing faster than supply. The result: thousands of patients across the region depend daily on blood transfusions, and many don't get what they need.

WHO says the people most affected are women with childbirth complications, children suffering severe malaria and anaemia, accident victims, and patients with chronic illnesses. “For each of them, safe blood is not optional, it's essential to survival,” the organisation warned.

The 2026 World Blood Donor Day theme is “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.” WHO used the day to praise voluntary donors as “silent heroes” whose generosity saves lives and strengthens communities. “Every blood donation reflects the essence of our common humanity, solidarity, compassion and care for one another,” the organisation said.

But behind the praise, problems remain serious.

WHO pointed to persistent challenges: poor infrastructure, not enough regular voluntary donors, weak funding, misinformation, and cultural beliefs that discourage people from donating. In some countries, reliance on family replacement donors and paid donors continues, which raises concerns about both availability and safety.

Safety is another headache. While most African countries screen donated blood for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis, not all systems test for every infection fully. WHO warned that infections such as HIV and hepatitis B are still present among some donors, making stronger screening and quality assurance critical.

WHO called on governments to invest more in national blood programmes and urged eligible citizens to donate regularly. “Because when we give blood, we give more than a medical resource, we give hope, dignity and the promise of a healthier future for all,” Janabi said.

The organisation also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting African countries through policy support, better regulation, workforce development, and improved access to safe blood services.

For a region where a mother can bleed to death in childbirth simply because no blood is available, the message is blunt: Africa needs more blood, and it needs it safe.