Eastern Region marks Blood Donor Day

Four individuals, four second cycles institutions in the Eastern Region, and seven religious organizations were honoured in Koforidua, to mark World Blood Donor Day in the region.

The first prize for the individuals was presented to Mr Kingsley Wayme, for donating blood 37 times and the second prize went to Mr Ayisi Boateng, for donating 35 times, while the third prize went to Ms Gillean Frizer-Joof for donating 26 times.

Ms Abina Anima Asare, a retired nurse and a voluntary blood donor, was given an award of appreciation for donating blood 42 times to the Koforidua Regional Hospital Blood Bank where she worked.

The schools honoured included, Koforidua Technical Institute, Koforidua Secondary Technical Senior High School, St. Paul’s Technical Institute and Pope John Senior High School.

Other institutions honoured were the East Ghana Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, the Effiduase District of the SDA, the Koforidua District of SDA, the Kwabeng District of the SDA, the EP Church of Ghana and the International Central Gospel Church.

The Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr MacDamian Dedzo, appealed to institutions in the region to help the blood bank to achieve hundred percent voluntary blood donations in the region.

He regretted that, lack of blood and blood products had been one of the major causes of high maternal deaths in the region, and if the region could achieve 100 percent voluntary blood donation it could go a long way to help save the lives of many pregnant women who die because of blood shortage.

Dr Dedzo expressed appreciation that out of five schools in the country that were rewarded for blood donation, three were from the Eastern Region, namely, Koforidua Secondary Technical Senior High School, Krobo Girls Senior High School and Manya Krobo Senior High School.

The Acting Director of the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Kwame Anim Boamah, observed that only 25 percent of the total volume of blood requirement by the blood bank of the Regional Hospital is covered by voluntary blood donors. He said as a result, relations of patients who are transfused are called upon to replace the blood.

He said the aim of the hospital is to achieve 100 percent voluntary blood donation so that people would not be required to replace the blood transfused to their relations.