Health Minister supports blood donors with 50 computers

The out-going Health Minister, Madam Sherry Ayittey has donated 50 laptop computers to the National Blood Service, Ghana, in fulfillment of a pledge she made at a ceremony to commemorate this year’s World Blood Donor Day in Accra.

The laptops are to serve as motivation to Best Blood Donating Schools as well as contestants of a “WHAT DO YOU KNOW” television quiz competition, organised by the National Blood Service, as part of activities marking the 11th edition of World Blood Donor Day in Ghana.

The best donating schools were Ghanata Secondary School at Dodowa, Krobo Girls Secondary and Koforidua Secondary Technical School.

Presenting the items, the out-going Health Minister, said the ministry was aware of the challenges confronting the National Blood Service in their quest to collect safe blood from voluntary unpaid donors in Ghana.

She said the ministry was taking concrete steps towards ensuring that all health facilities, practicing blood transfusion therapy, improves access to safe blood and blood products from voluntary blood donors, especially for women giving birth.

She also charged the National Blood Service to place more emphasis on safe blood for all, particularly mothers in their scheme of things, despite the challenges they may be confronted with.

The out-going Minister however made a clarion call to all and sundry to get on board the blood donation drive in saving lives.

The Director of the National Blood Service, Dr. Justina K. Ansah who received the laptops on behalf of the service was grateful to the Minister for the support and called on other individuals and corporate bodies to support the National Blood Service with logistics that could go a long way to support voluntary blood donation programmes.

Dr. Ansah also made a passionate appeal to corporate institutions and organised groups to regularly support the Blood Service, since their contributions, according to her was critical to help avoid seasonal blood shortages at the various hospital blood banks in the country.