‘Donate blood to save lives’
The acting Mfantseman Municipal Medical Director of Health Services (MDHS), Ms Stella Maria Sackey, has noted that the lives of many accident victims could be saved if health facilities had enough blood stock all the time.
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She said the timely availability of blood for emergency health care was one of the determinants of patients’ survival.
“These people often require blood transfusion during the first 24 hours of treatment,” she stressed.
Ms Sackey was speaking at a blood donation exercise organised as part of activities to mark World Blood Donor Day at the Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School in Saltpond.
The day was marked on June 14 on the theme: “Safe blood for saving mothers”.
More than 50 students and some volunteers from the Church of Christ donated blood at the event.
Ms Sackey said the Southern Area Blood Centre, which is responsible for blood transfusion in the Greater Accra, Volta, Central and parts of the Eastern and Western regions, could not meet its daily target of 500 units of blood.
That, she explained, was because of the difficulty in getting and maintaining voluntary blood donors.
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She said an estimated 1,323 people lost their lives through motor accidents in 2013.
Appeal
Ms Sackey impressed on the public to voluntarily donate blood to save lives and assured patients of the quality of the blood they received from donors.
The Medical Superintendent of the Saltpond Municipal Hospital, Dr Derek A. Bonsu, advised students to stay away from unhealthy sexual practices that could result in their contracting HIV.
He also entreated members of the public to donate blood to help save lives, adding, “There are many advantages in donating blood.”
The Headmistress of Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS, Ms Charlotte Addo, advised students to concentrate on their books, instead of engaging in promiscuous lifestyles.