By Agnes Ansah
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – The National Blood Service (NBS) has appealed to parents to allow their wards to donate blood to help sustain the national blood supply.
The Service said declining participation in school blood donation exercises had affected collections and could limit supplies to hospitals and emergency cases.
Madam Rita Justin Manorkpor, Blood Donor Recruiter at the NBS, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, made the appeal during a blood donation exercise at Dansoman, Accra, on Saturday.
She said schools previously provided a significant proportion of blood donations, but parental concerns had contributed to a sharp decline in participation.
Madam Manorkpor said some schools that previously recorded about 100 donors were now recording as few as 20.
“Most of the time, it is the schools that help us in the blood donation exercises.When we go to the schools, we get more. But right now, you go to the schools and they say parents are concerned. It is affecting our blood collection.
“You go to some schools that maybe sometimes we get 100 donors but now you go to the same school and get only 20. It is so disappointing and when it happens like that, we don’t get enough to even supply the other hospitals or the emergency situations that we have,” she said.
Madam Manorkpor appealed to parents and the public to donate blood voluntarily to support patients, including women in labour, accident victims and cancer patients.
“Blood is not manufactured. The only way we get it is when somebody donates it.When donors are donating, that is when we can get,” she said.
Madam Manorkpor said misconceptions and fears about blood donation, including concerns about death and losing too much blood, also contributed to low donor turnout.
She said every prospective donor underwent screening before donation and that anyone found medically unfit would not be allowed to donate.
“Before you donate, we take you through a series of tests. When we realise that you are not eligible for the donation, we will not force you to donate the blood. We make sure you are safe,” she said.
Madam Manorkpor said blood donation was primarily aimed at saving lives, while regular donation could also have health benefits for eligible donors.
Dr Makafui Clevor, Assistant Men’s Lead at Conquerors Chapel International, said the church’s partnership with the NBS was driven by the need to help save lives.
He said the church was committed to supporting hospitals to address critical blood shortages, particularly for pregnant women and patients with severe anaemia.
“Blood donation is very important when it comes to saving lives in case of emergencies. As a Christian body under the leadership of our father, Prophet Isaac Anto, we helped put this donation exercise together to help save lives,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Agnes AnsahÂ
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