16 pregnant women die for want of blood in Tema

Sixteen pregnant women in the Tema Metropolis lost their lives in 2015 due to the unavailability of blood to sustain them.

Dr John Yabani, Tema Metropolitan Health Director, who disclosed this on Thursday during a blood donation exercise, said the 16 are among 35 women who lost their lives last year.

Dr Yabani added that Tema needs about 75,000 units of blood annually to adequately respond to emergency situations that needed blood infusion.

He indicated that to meet their target and solve the issue of the unavailability of blood in the Metropolis, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) in collaboration with the Directorate initiated a blood donation exercise to be carried out quarterly.

He said a register of blood donors was being compiled as part of the exercise for constant interaction with donors to ensure that those with rare blood group would be on standby to donate when the need arose.

He also encouraged the general public to voluntarily donate as part of their responsibility to save lives.

Dr Tease Caiquo, President of the Private Health Providers in Tema, who were partners of the exercise, said there was the need to build a proper blood bank at the Tema General Hospital to provide the needed blood for the Metropolis.

Dr Caiquo stated that currently health providers in Tema depended on the Korle Teaching Hospital to meet the blood needs of patients.

He reminded residents and stakeholders that without blood, it would be difficult to save lives, stressing that accidents could easily occur at the numerous industries in the metropolis as well as on its roads.

He urged the public to shy away from the old belief that one would die after donating blood as it was only a myth.

Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, thanked stakeholders especially the Private Health Providers and BC Global Foundation, a non-governmental organization, involved in educating people on the need to donate blood for helping to organize the exercise.

Mr Odamtten said the exercise was the third to be organized for staff and officials of the TMA this year, adding that a final one would take place in the fourth quarter of the year.