A blood donation exercise has been organised by the Narh-Bita Hospital in Tema and affiliate institutions in a move to boost blood reserves in the national blood bank.
The exercise, according to the Director of the Narh-Bita Hospital, Dr Edward Narh, was not a mere corporate social responsibility but a divine call to save lives.
The event also formed part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of Adom Medical Laboratory, an institution established by the management of Narh-Bita Hospital, and which now hosts one of the campuses of Narh-Bita College.
It was the first by the hospital, which organised the event in collaboration with Adom Medical Laboratory and Narh-Bita College, which comprises the school of physician assistantship, school of nursing and school of laboratory technicians, both subsidiaries of the Narh-Bita project.
Dr Narh said the blood donation event would, from henceforth, be organised twice a year as part of the hospital's annual activities.
"For some years now, the National Blood Service has not had surplus blood and so we find it a duty to contribute to boost reserves in the bank for emergencies and other situations," he told the Daily Graphic.
The National Blood Transfusion Service collects just two-thirds of its total blood requirement every year, and the shortfall could lead to fatalities or complications in patients.
The organisers rendered free dental and eye screening services to patrons of the exercise as a bonus package for their contribution to the success of the programme, while a professional dietician delivered a talk on healthy eating habits.
There was also free weight, height and BMI (body mass index) screening and free diabetic and hepatitis screening for the more than 300 persons who attended the programme.
The blood donation exercise, organised on the premises of the Narh-Bita College, was supported by Ahiadome Transport, TT Brothers Limited, RAKES, Community Five Apostolic Church, Nationwide Insurance, Printex, Valco, 3 Dees, Mobile Water and Sena FM, with support from Tema Joint Church Young Adults Fellowship and Social Action Committee.
