The Blood Unit of the Upper East Regional Hospital is in urgent need of blood to cater to patients requiring transfusions. Currently, the facility requires approximately 14 pints of blood daily to meet the demands of patients in critical need.
Kingsley Gamor, Principal Laboratory Assistant at the Blood Unit, revealed the pressing situation in an interview, stating that while the current demand is significant, the need for blood increases drastically during peak seasons, particularly in the rainy season when malaria and other illnesses surge.
“Sometimes when patients come and need blood especially, those at maternity and surgeries, we run out of blood and it is difficult to get replacement most times when we give it out. It is difficult to get a replacement at most times. This is not the peak season but on a daily basis, we have 15 pints of blood a day, meanwhile, we are not in the peak season which is the rainy season and that is where we issue more blood,” Mr. Gamor noted.
He was speaking to the media when the leading telecommunication network in the country, MTN organized a blood donation exercise in some schools on the 14th day of February, Valentine’s Day to restock the regional blood bank.
“It is not easy to organize this, a lot of funds have gone into it because I have learned it is a nationwide exercise. May God bless MTN’s effort and I urged other corporate bodies to join in to save lives,” he entreated.
Martin Yaw Kumobah, the Upper East Regional Team Lead of MTN Ghana, emphasized that the initiative is part of MTN’s commitment to supporting healthcare and saving lives.
“We believe that Valentine’s Day is a period to show love to mankind and for me, the best gift anybody can show somebody is to share your blood to save a life. And that is the most significant gift you can receive on the day we show and that’s why we’ve chosen Valentine’s Day to do this,” he stated.
Since 2011, MTN Ghana has undertaken its nationwide blood donation exercise every February 14, to mark Valentine’s Day, a day recognized globally as one of love and compassion. This year’s exercise in the Upper East Region was held at Zamse Senior High School, Bolgatanga Senior High School, and Bolgatanga Technical Institute, with a target to collect 350 pints of blood to restock the Upper East Regional Blood Bank. Mr. Kumobah explained that the blood donation exercise is part of MTN Foundation’s key pillars, which focus on prioritizing the health and well-being of customers.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|
