By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, June 11, GNA – Ghana will mark World Blood Donor Day on June 12, 2026, with a national event aimed at recognising blood donors and encouraging more voluntary donations to strengthen the country’s blood supply.
The event, organised by the National Blood Service Ghana (NBSG), comes ahead of the global observance on June 14 and will be held under the theme: “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood, Save Lives.”
Dr Shirley Owusu-Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the NBSG, told the Ghana News Agency that the theme highlights the human impact of blood donation and the role of donors in supporting healthcare delivery.
She said a single drop of blood symbolised humanity’s interconnectedness and reflected the compassion behind every donation.
“This year’s slogan reminds us that the whole of humanity can be reflected in a single drop of blood,” health officials explained ahead of the celebration.
“Every donation represents a gesture of compassion that has the potential to save multiple lives.”
Dr Owusu-Ofori said the event would honour both voluntary donors and family replacement donors, who often provide blood for relatives during medical emergencies.
The NBSG said the celebration was intended not only to recognise existing donors but also to encourage more Ghanaians to view blood donation as a civic and humanitarian responsibility.
Health experts say access to safe blood remains critical for emergency surgeries, trauma care, treatment of chronic illnesses and the management of complications during childbirth.
Blood cannot be manufactured and is available only through donations from eligible individuals.
Officials noted that maternal haemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal mortality in many developing countries, making timely access to blood transfusions essential.
“When a mother survives childbirth because blood was available, families remain intact, children continue their education and communities are spared the social and economic consequences that often accompany the loss of a parent,” a spokesperson noted.
“One act of humanity can change the trajectory of an entire family.”
Stakeholders are expected to use the occasion to renew calls for increased investment in Ghana’s blood system, stronger collaboration among health institutions and sustained public education on voluntary blood donation.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira Larbie