ADVERTISEMENT

Health Ministry staff to take the lead in blood donation regularisation

Health Minister, Alex Segbefia who made this known at a ceremony in Accra on Tuesday to mark World Blood Donor day, said the programme is aimed at sensitizing the general public on the need to donate blood to help address blood shortage at the blood bank.

Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia

Ghanaians have over the years developed a lackadaisical attitude towards blood donation due to possible fears of contracting HIV-AIDS.

But Mr Segbefia said those are just misconceptions, adding “I will encourage everybody regardless of what you are doing and where you are to find at least 30 minutes or one hour in your year period and donate blood.”

Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that blood donations in the continent increased from 3.9 million in 2013 to 4.4 million in 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

The acting Head of Korle Bu Blood Bank said the increase in blood donation is encouraging.

“The amount of blood we’ve had from voluntary donors has gone up significantly and if you look at the beginning of the year to this point in June, for instance, there’s been an increase of over 30 percent compared to the same period last year,” he noted.

“And we believe that as more and more people realise that you don’t have to wait for a relative to require a transfusion before you can donate blood we will get more donors in the future,” he said.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT