From donor to patient, the journey of blood is one of the most critical yet overlooked pillars of healthcare especially across Africa, where the demand often outpaces supply. But what does it really take to get safe blood from one arm to another? In this feature, we unpack each step of the blood journey from donor recruitment and collection, to testing, processing, and the final life-saving transfusion. Discover why strengthening this “vein-to-vein” process is not just about saving lives, but about building the resilient, equitable health systems Africa needs.