Melcom Care Foundation holds nationwide blood donation

The Melcom Care Foundation, the charity wing of the Melcom Group of Companies, in collaboration with National Blood Transfusion Service, has organised a nationwide blood donation exercise to help stock the National Blood Bank.

The exercise was held simultaneously at the Group’s shops across the country; namely Spintex, Kaneshie Plus, Teshie-Nungua, Kisseman, Accra Central, Tema and Ashaiman.

The rest are Koforidua, Swedru, Cape Coast, Sunyani, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Takoradi, Hohoe, Ho, and Adiebeba and Adum in Kumasi.

The Police Hospital, the Ridge Hospital, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37th Military Hospital conducted the exercise within Accra.

Mr Godwin Avenorgbor, the Group’s Communications Director, speaking at the official launch on Thursday at the Spintex branch in Accra, said the organisation of the event was part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility to help save lives.

The Communications Director appealed to the public to donate more blood to help save lives.

He recounted that in 2014, the National Blood Transfusion Service honoured Melcom Group for being the largest recruited of blood donors.

Chief Superintendent of Police Francis Mainu-Ofe, Head, Laboratory and Morgue Unit of the Police Hospital, said donated blood is a lifeline for many people needing long-term treatments, not just in emergencies.

He said a healthy person could donate blood once in every quarter of the year; making a total of four times annually.

He appealed to the public to take up the issue of blood donation very seriously to help save lives; stating that “donate a pint of blood today and save your own live tomorrow”.

He urged husbands of pregnant women to donate blood since, women turn to lose blood during deliveries.

Chief Supt Mainu-Ofe, who gave an overview of the blood donation process observed that the contact details of each donor is taken to facilitate a follow up for treatment in case there is a detection of diseases such HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis B and C.

He lauded Kokomlemle Baptist Church for donating blood to the Police Hospital Blood Bank on June 1; which sustained the Hospital during the time of the Goil Fuel Filling Station Disaster up to date.

Chief Supt Mainu-Ofe also commended Melcom Care Foundation for organising the blood donation exercise, and urged other corporate entities to emulate the Foundation's shining example.