MTN Ghana Foundation since the beginning of its Save a Life campaign has collected close to four thousand pints of blood for the National Transfusion services.
This was revealed during the foundation’s 6th Annual blood donation Exercise on Valentine’s day.
Northern Sector General Manager of MTN; James Bukari Basintale tells media men, the initiative was ignited as a result of a distress call from the National Blood Bank. “Having recognized the depth of the perennial blood shortage at the National Transfusion Service, the foundation decided to support and save more lives by instituting the blood donation exercise as an annual
campaign”.
He explained that the World Health Organization believes voluntary non-remunerated blood donors are the foundation of a safe and sustainable blood supply. ” They indicate that without a system based on regular voluntary donation, no country can provide sufficient blood for all patients who require transfusion.”
In Ghana, only 66% of the total blood requirement is donated voluntarily.
He urged all Ghanaians to take an interest in voluntary blood donation for its health benefits to the individual and also as a means of saving lives.
For her part, Head of the Blood Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital; Dr. Sherley Owusu Ofori explained how important it is to dispel myths associated with blood donation. She praised MTN for a great job done and asked for more saying that though there might be stocks in the blood bank, a high demand for blood, coupled with a relatively short shelf life makes ongoing voluntary blood donations an absolute necessity.
