Health authorities are renewing their push for voluntary blood donation as supplies come under strain. On Sunday, June 14, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), will join the global observance of World Blood Donor Day 2026 under the theme ‘One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.’

This year’s observance will feature a suite of initiatives to boost supply, including the launch  of a national donor club,  intended to build a steady pool of voluntary donors and reduce the country’s reliance on emergency contributions.

Jamaica’s system has long depended on replacement donations — blood given in response to a relative’s or friend’s need — rather than a routine, unpaid supply.