15% of blood donated to KATH contains hepatitis "B"

Kumasi, Feb 16, GNA - About 15 per cent of blood donated to the Blood Bank of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is infected with hepatitis 'B'.

Mr Kofi Adu, Blood Organiser for KATH who disclosed this, said it was one of the major problems the bank faced in the area of blood donation.

Speaking during the donation of blood by the Biological Sciences Students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to the blood bank in Kumasi on Tuesday, he said this therefore renders the infected blood unsuitable for use.

He said, however, that the current blood situation at the hospital was satisfactory since their major source of donation was from second cycle institutions in the region and added that now that the association had joined, the bank can fall on them at anytime for assistance. Mr Percy Korsah, President of the Association, said they decided to spend the Valentine Day in a positive way by donating blood to KATH which experiences frequent blood shortage.

He said Valentine Day was most appropriate to them to donate the blood because it was a special day for showing love to mankind and said their action was to help save lives and to show appreciation to what their parents and guardians, government and society were doing for them.