By Dorothy Frances Ward
Kumasi, July 3, GNA – The Transfusion Medicine Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, as part of efforts to ensure continuous availability of blood at its blood bank, has embarked on aggressive blood donation campaign in some senior high schools in the Ashanti region.
The aim is to restock and replenish the dwindling blood bank of the hospital and ensure that blood were readily available to needy patients at all times.
The campaign, which started at the T.I Ahmadiyya senior high school in Kumasi, coincided with this year’s celebration of the World Blood Donor Day.
Among the schools which would also be engaged to voluntarily donate blood to the bank are Toase Senior high school and the Kumasi Academy.
Mr Christian Oppong Mensah, Head of Blood Donor Recruitment at the Transfusion Medicine Unit of KATH, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that, recognizing the power of the youth and believe in mobilising them to donate blood, was key in securing a safe and sustainable blood supply for the future.
The theme for this year’s World Blood Donor Day Celebration is “Give blood, Give Hope, Together we save Lives.”
Mr Oppong Mensah pointed out that, the involvement of the youth would not only help to meet the immediate health needs, but would also cultivate a culture of compassion and civic responsibility among the youth.
He said the blood donor day celebration was not only a gesture of gratitude to donors and stakeholders but also a call to action, reminding everyone of the vital importance of regular, voluntary blood donation.
He said that each drop of blood represented hope of survival of lives saved from mothers with complications at childbirth, accident victims suffering traumatic injuries among others.
Mr. Oppong -Mensah said that 1000 units of blood were needed by the blood bank, adding that 80 units were used daily.
He said the KATH blood bank served 12 out of the 16 regions in the country and there was the need to ensure that there was no shortages whatsoever.
He said the bank was sometimes unable to meet the health needs of patients due to increase in demand for blood and urged the youth and the public to donate to save lives.
Mr Oppong Mensah pointed out that, donating blood did not affect the health of the donor negatively in any way but rather, made one healthy.
Master Ibrahim Muhammed, a donor from T.I. Ahmadiyya, said he had donated for the second time and urged his colleague students to also do so to save lives.
“It could be your own relative that might need blood to survive someday”, he said.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah