Aside from the benefits of emotional and physical health that donating blood provides, a decision to donate blood can also save a life. This is why a donor nurse at the Upper East Regional Hospital Blood Bank, Anafo Augustina, is appealing for voluntary blood donations for the hospital.
Mrs. Anafo said there is always a constant need for blood, especially in the maternity ward, hence the need for organizations and individuals to voluntarily avail themselves and donate, which she says will go a long way to help many.
According to the donor nurse, many people were brought to the hospital, and after blood was transfused into them, their relatives could not be traced to replace the blood. It is in this regard that Mrs. Anafo is advocating for voluntary blood donation to save lives.
“It is important for people to come and donate blood because some people come to the hospital and they don’t have relatives, especially people who are mentally ill who are everywhere. When they come and receive blood, they have no relatives to replace the blood. So if a voluntary donor comes and voluntarily donates blood at the regional hospital, it saves a lot of lives. So I will tell people out there to voluntarily come and donate blood and save lives at the hospital, especially at the maternity ward. When the women deliver, they always bleed a lot, so in a day they can come and take up to 10 to 15 units,” she said.
Mrs. Anafo also dismisses the myth that suggests blood is being sold at the hospital for people who are always in need of blood. She explained that the hospital does not sell blood, but people only come in with commercial donors to donate and they pay them, which the hospital does not have a hand in.
Anafo Augustina made this passionate appeal when she led a team from the Upper East Regional Blood Bank to the Bolgatanga Technical Institute for a blood donation exercise organized by MTN Ghana through its foundation as part of the Valentine’s Day celebration in the region. Martin Yaw Kumobah, MTN team lead for the Upper East and North East regions, underscored the need for the blood donation exercise his outfit organized. He stated that it is part of MTN Ghana’s corporate social responsibilities, hence, the company does it annually, specifically on Valentine’s Day.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHZ | David Azure | Bolgatanga
