Accra, May 26, GNA – UT Bank and Happy fm in collaboration with the Global Media Alliance, at the weekend organised a health screening and blood donation exercise in Accra to encourage people to donate blood to save lives.rn rnMrs Sophia Lissah, Media and Public Relations Manager of UT Bank said the exercise was part of its social corporate responsibility to support the blood bank at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.rn rnShe said the exercise was in response to an appeal from the national blood bank for the donation to reverse the shortage of blood at the facility, which is resulting in the death of a number of children and women.rn rnMrs Lissah noted that the exercise was important because it would save lives.rn rnShe said donation of a pint of blood means saving the life of an individual irrespective of religion, status or ethnicity and “it gives joy for UT Bank to be part of this exercise”.rn rnShe explained that the exercise was done on African Union day because it is a holiday which allowed many people at home and have the opportunity to partake in the exercise, which was the second of its kind.rn rnShe said the exercise also afforded people to check their blood pressure, haemoglobin level and hepatitis status.rn rnMrs Lissah urged the public to go for regular check-ups and not wait until they got sick before visiting the hospital.rn rnMr Charles Osei Asibey, General Manager of Happy FM said it gives his outfit delight to be part of the exercise.rn rnHe said if people are happy and healthy; it refreshes their soul to listen to radio stations hence the need for the donation.rn rnMr Asibey noted that many people lose their life as a result of lack of blood, citing victims of fatal accidents as an example.rn rnHe said the exercise is part of the station’s duty of giving back to the society to help the blood bank to have enough blood to save lives during emergencies.rn rnMr Asibey said the station had carried the exercise for the past six years.rn rnHe encouraged people to be part of the exercise and appealed to the media to educate the public about their health by giving them the needed information to contribute to the nation’s health development.rn rnMs Kate Sonne, a nurse at the Hospital urged government officials to educate the masses to show interest in donating blood.rn rnShe also stressed on the need for the public to donate blood to save lives.rn rnGNA