National Blood Service appreciates voluntary donors

The Southern Area Blood Centre of the National Blood Service, Ghana, has expressed appreciation to all voluntary blood donors who responded to the national call to freely donate blood in support of blood banks.

A statement from the National Blood Service signed by the Public Relations Manager, Mr Steven Addai-Baah, said blood stocks in the recent past dwindled to a record low, compelling the service to go public and appeal to people to help salvage the situation.

It said the service was grateful for the spirit of voluntarism, co-operation and support from the general public, the religious organisations, the media and corporate institutions for the love and commitment shown by organising blood donation events and sessions.

“We are happy to announce that your support has indeed helped normalise the situation in the interim,” the statement said.

In view of the relatively short shelf life of blood and the high demands from the hospitals, the National Blood service still encourages more voluntary donors across the country to donate blood at least twice a year to ensure adequacy of  blood throughout the year.

The National Blood Service is also appealing to the general public to volunteer information on illegal blood donors, popularly called ‘Commercial Donors,’ whose activities compromised the safety of blood and blood products.

The service is the institution responsible for ensuring the adequacy, safety, efficacy of blood and blood products for all patients in both public and private health institutions in Ghana.

GNA