The National Blood Service says myths, misconceptions and illegal charges demanded from previous donors continue to hinder efforts to maintain a safe and reliable blood supply.
CEO of the National Blood Service Dr. Shirley Owusu – Ofori however hopes the enforcement of some new regulations to be passed early next year, will help tackle these longstanding challenges.
Despite an increase in voluntary blood collections in Ghana, demand outweighs supply, which negatively affects the blood collection index as stipulated by the WHO. According to the National Blood Service, the country barely makes 60% of its national needs currently.
It is reported that every two seconds, someone needs blood and every blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.
However, illegal charges and other barriers hinder willing and able persons from donating. Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori is hopeful, the new regulations when passed, will be able to enforce stringent measures to address these inadequacies and more.
‘’We have gotten some feedback from some donors and they have had some very negative experiences when they needed blood, and so as a Blood Service, we are critically looking at enforcing what’s the access, and hoping that we will enforce that in our regulations, these regulations are nearly coming out of the pipeline. We hope that in quarter one for 2025 when our regulations are passed, we’ll be able to enforce stringent measures on people who are sending out these negative vibes about blood donation.
Those who are taking money illegally are part of the reasons why people don’t want to give blood, but not the least, reasons why people don’t want to give. We’re barely making 60% of our national needs. It is possible that the figures we have may not be very accurate. But going forward, we are also launching an information management system.
We hope that in quarter one next year, we will have it launched. It requires money to put such a system in place, so we hope that with that system, we’ll be able to have a strong database of our donors, and we’ll leverage on that database to do the education. We’ll leverage on that database to reach out to our donors in real time,” she stated.
According to her, “… we have the platform which has an app, a donor app, and we’re able to relate to them and answer what their activities are and their problem. Finance, information management system will also have an interface where the blood available across every region will be transparent.”
At an event to serve as a reminder of the selfless act of blood donation, Samuel Akomaning, was adjudged the national best blood donor. He was among other awardees who made a remarkable donation of blood units within the year to the blood bank.
Having donated blood since 1999, he recounts the countless blessings the singular act has brought to his life.
‘‘It was 20 yrs ago. I was a young man selling children’s cloth at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after my SHS. And I saw a woman in distress crying. I asked what the problem was and I was told she needed a blood donor for her only child on admission. So, I offered to donate and the child was saved. The family later called and offered me a job in their company and that’s where I have been working since the last 20yrs. So I know what free blood donation has done for me. Please donate when you get the chance to. You could be saving a life. I never miss any donation moment. Unless I am not in the country,” he disclosed.
Council of State member and Rotarian, Sam Okudjeto encouraged more voluntary donations of blood emphasizing its importance.
“Please donate if you can. You never know. It could be you who need the blood, a family or friend. look it’s very important to donate,” he stressed.
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