Segbefia calls for more voluntary blood donations

The Minister of Health, Mr Alex Segbefia, has advised individuals to volunteer to donate  blood to save lives. “The lives of our mothers with severe bleeding after delivery, victims of road-traffic accidents with excessive bleeding from wounds and those going for surgery can be saved if each individual donates a unit of blood at least twice a year,” he stated.

Mr Segbefia, therefore, appealed to individuals to volunteer and donate blood to the National Blood Service (NBS) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. (KBTH)

Blood connects us all

The minister was speaking at Korle Bu in Accra last Tuesday to mark World Blood Donor Day.

The global event was on the theme: “Blood connects us all.”

The day is designated to celebrate millions of individuals around the world who donate blood on a voluntary basis to save lives and improve the health of others.

The  event was graced by some students from seven senior high schools (SHSs), including Chemu, Labone, the Accra Technical Training Centre and Ngleshie Amanfrom in the Ga South municipality.

Save life

Mr Segbefia used the occasion to donate blood to the NBS and urged the public to develop the culture of voluntary blood donation.

“I wish to make a clarion call to all and sundry to get on board in this life-saving exercise by donating a unit of blood at least twice a year.

 “Every healthy person within the ages of 17 and 60 can give blood to save the life of a child with severe anaemia, malaria, malnutrition or sickle cell disease,” he stated.

The acting Director of the NBS, Dr Lucy Asamoah-Akuoko, said many patients could not survive because their family’s donation could not ensure their survival, saying “a single donation can make a difference”.

Participants in the ceremony.

She, therefore, appealed for constant blood donation by the public.

Support activities

For her part, a representative of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Felicia Owusu-Antwi, underscored the need for policy makers to support the activities of the NBS.

According her, blood shortage in most countries was often due to weak policies and the lack of systems to meet the needs of all patients.

She observed that most individuals were yet to embrace the culture of volunteerism and expressed gratitude to voluntary unpaid donors.

The NBS  climaxed the event by acknowledging the effort of five SHSs and two tertiary institutions to frequently support the national blood bank.