Over 26,000 voluntary donors needed to stock blood bank annually
It is estimated that over 26,000 voluntary blood donors are required annually to stock the national blood bank to meet the blood requirements. This figure, representing one per cent of the country’s population, according to the Acting Head of the Southern Area Blood Centre (SABC), Dr Michael Acquah, would ensure that the blood bank has enough blood to give to those in need.
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In an interview with the Graphic Business, he said few voluntary donors were required to sort out the blood needs of the whole country, hence the need for people to continue donating blood regularly.
“In Ghana you can donate safely once every four months, so every year you can donate three times. If you have one per cent of the population donating blood once every four months, it will be enough for everybody,” he said.
The total population in Ghana was estimated at 26.4 million people as of 2014, according to the latest census figures from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Apathy towards donation
Generally, people have apathy towards donating blood, and this has prompted some corporate organisations to organise blood donation exercises periodically to enable them to stock the blood bank.
Dr Acquah explained that blood was needed every day and, therefore, people must see it as a service to help save lives.
“Some people feel that if their relatives don’t need blood, then nobody needs blood but then we need blood every day,” he said.
According to him, seasonal changes and its impact on blood requirements make it impossible to say there is enough blood in the blood bank in the country.
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“There is nothing like enough blood because you can have one today and tomorrow you might not, because if there is a big accident somewhere you will need the blood and suddenly you will be in need,” he said.
He added, “Currently we have enough for about two days which is okay, because every day blood comes in. The problem comes when we are not able to meet today’s demands; it is difficult to give a daily estimate except we want to limit it to the needs of a particular community.”
J.A Plant Pool to the rescue
Leading supplier of heavy duty and earth-moving equipment, J.A. Plant Pool Ghana Limited, has presented a trailer head to the National Blood Service, Ghana (NBSG).
The trailer head will be used for a mobile van that is going to be used for community blood donation exercises as part of efforts by the blood service to improve blood collection to ensure blood sufficiency at all times.
Presenting the trailer, the Managing Director of J.A. Plant Pool Ghana Limited, Mr Lolu Akindele, said the company was a socially responsible one and was committed to helping the community in which they operated.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to provide free after-sales service for the trailer head which comprised free maintenance and free advice.
The Director of the NBSG, Dr Justina K. Ansah, said the mobile donor clinic was brought into the country from Wales and had been idle for two years because it didn’t have a trailer head to aid its movement.
She said the donation would help move the equipment to the communities to increase voluntary blood donations.
Dr Ansah expressed gratitude to the company for the kind gesture and urged other corporate bodies to support the service, and also urged people to donate blood to ensure safety and adequate supply of blood all year round.