MamaYe partners institutions for blood donation champaign
The MamaYe Campaign, in partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank) and the Red Cross Society of Ghana, has organised two separate blood donation exercises to stock the Blood Bank.
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The first event, which took place at the St John’s Grammar Senior High School in Accra on May 8, attracted over 400 participants. In all, 110 pints of blood was donated.
Speaking about the importance of voluntary blood donation, the Public Relations Officer of the Blood Bank, Mr Stephen Addai-Baah, said: “It is critical that we make blood available to all health facilities in the country because it is an essential part of emergency healthcare delivery. On a daily basis, our hospitals need blood to save lives so we can’t look away.”
He said the situation of pregnant women in particular was so delicate that it would be suicidal if the blood storage facilities in hospitals ran out completely. The Blood Bank has been collaborating with the MamaYe Campaign to encourage many more individuals to donate blood voluntarily as haemorrhage continues to be the number one contributor to maternal mortality.
At the second event, the Red Cross Society of Ghana, Greater Accra Directorate, collaborated with the MamaYe Campaign to organise a blood donation campaign. The event, which proved highly successful, brought together various groups and clubs whose members expressed excitement at the opportunity to save a life.
A first time donor, Mr David Antwi, said: “I have heard all kinds of myths about blood donation but after the Blood Bank officials spoke to us, it was very easy for me to donate. I will use this opportunity to encourage other young people to come out during such occasions to donate blood. You never know when you would need it.”
At the end of the event, 170 people had donated blood.
Officials of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) were also there to register participants in the ongoing biometric registration process. Some officials of the NHIA also donated blood to encourage participants to do so.
