National Blood Service rations blood due to low voluntary donation
The National Blood Service, Ghana (NBSG), has begun rationing blood to patients based on their need assessment.
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This is because the blood bank has virtually run out of stock with the demand for blood outstripping what is available.
This came to light at the 14th National Blood Donor Day in Accra during which about 14 institutions and individuals received certificates, citations and prizes for emerging outstanding blood donors.
The day, which also marked the launch of the annual blood donation campaign, was on the theme, “Safe blood for saving mothers”.
Winners
The Overall Best Blood Donor went to Mr Muazu Abdulai from Kumasi, who had so far donated 54 times. For his prize, he took away a deep freezer, a citation and a certificate. Sergeant Kenneth Ohene Brenya and Thomas Tehoda, who took the second and third places, had donated 53 and 52 times respectively.
Graphic Communications Group Ltd and Viasat One TV were honoured with citations in recognition of their significant support for the Blood Collection programme in Ghana.
Voluntary donation
The Director of the NBSG, Dr Justina K. Ansah, appealed to the public to voluntarily donate blood to save lives.
She said the need for blood was constant, “and for many people, especially women of childbearing age and children who have received blood transfusions, a single donation could make a difference between life and death”.
“Provision of adequate and safe quantities of blood to our mothers and children who require blood transfusion will contribute significantly to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Four and Five,” she said.
Dr Ansah said the gift of life from the selfless non-remunerated blood donors had kept thousands of women alive across the country, “and I am glad to express my deepest appreciation to them for their kind gesture”.
Dr Ansah said unfortunately, voluntary blood donation in Ghana was currently 35 per cent, “making us depend heavily on family/replacement blood donations”.
“This situation severely compromises safety and adequacy for both medical and surgical care in our health facilities. We can move away from the situation, if just about one per cent of Ghana’s population commit to donating blood regularly,” she said.
MDGs Four & Five
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, stressed that the theme resonated very well with one of the sector’s MDG targets; to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters by 2015.
He called on the public to see blood donation as a patriotic duty.
Other organisations, institutions and individuals were also honoured for their support for the national blood service.