The Head of Blood Transfusion Medicine Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Shirley Owusu Ofori, says blood donation remains crucial and critical part of healthcare delivery in country.
She has, therefore, expressed worry about the drop in the number of voluntary donors which is prompting fear of alarming generation gap in blood donation.
Speaking at this year’s MTN Valentine’s Day blood donation exercise in Kumasi, Dr Ofori stated that family members of patients would not be required to give blood if 10 percent of the country’s population is committed to blood donation.
According to her, there is no placement for any health condition that requires blood, asserting that not even infusion, drug or medication can replace it.
She mentioned that since blood is obtained from human beings only for their fellows, it requires the commitment of the citizenry to donate regularly in order for the country to have a good stock of blood at any point in time.
“Blood is mostly useful when there is a need for it and it must be ready and available when it is needed,” she posited.
Dr Ofori maintained that the nation needs to stock her blood bank to await emergency so as to make it available for any physical condition.
She assured members of the public that safety would not be compromised by the blood service throughout the country as it is committed to the safety and health of both the donor and the recipient.
“It’s a fairly safe process and people should have confidence to come and donate. Once you are within the ages of 16 and 60 and you feel well on the day of donation, you can walk up to us,” she appealed.
Charles Osei-Akoto, head of Technical Division of MTN Northern Business District, said the aim was to help replenish the blood stock for people who need it.
“Blood is something nobody can manufacture, and so if you want to show love and give gift in the month of love then the best thing to donate is blood. It will give life to another person,” he stated.
Mr Osei-Akoto said the blood donation exercise, which is fifth in the series of such programme by MTN, would promote life.
“In 2013, we had 305 pints of blood, 625 for 2014 and 1,137 pints in 2015 for the hospitals nationwide,” he disclosed, and added that the telecommunication company had been touching lives.
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