Koforidua Hospital cries for blood

Voluntary blood donors provide only 40 percent of the annual 2,000 units of blood required by the Koforidua Regional Hospital Blood Bank.

The hospital supplies blood to both private and public health institutions in the Eastern Region.

Mr Phanuel Mordzifa, the Senior Blood Organizer of the hospital blood bank, disclosed this at a durbar to encourage people to donate blood during a campaign scheduled for Monday, July 1.

He explained that hitherto, the blood bank was relying on voluntary blood donations by students from Senior High School (SHS) to make up for the shortage.

Mr Mordzifa said the blood bank could no longer rely on the students in view of the low ages of most of them since the minimum age for a blood donor is 17 years.

He said though not everybody could donate blood for various reasons, everybody could require blood.

Mr Mordzifa said it was the responsibility of every Ghanaian to support blood donation campaigns.

The Acting Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Kwame Anim Boamah, said about 25 per cent of pregnant women die through excessive bleeding during child birth and the inability of health facilities to mobilize blood for them on time.

He appealed to individuals who are medically fit to donate blood to hospitals to save lives.

Ms Philomena Quayson of the hospital blood bank called on religious organizations and groups to sign unto the Group Assurance Voluntary Blood donation policy of the blood bank, to be assured of blood for their members and relations anytime they would need blood.