By Samuel SAM
The MTN Ghana Foundation has donated more than 7,000 pints of blood to support the National Blood Service and regional hospital blood banks across the country.
The donation formed part of its annual “Save a Life” Blood Donation Drive, organised in collaboration with Cal Bank. The exercise was held at 44 designated centres across all 16 regions to help improve healthcare delivery.
In the Northern Region, donation activities took place at Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO), Islamic Senior High School in Tamale and Bimbilla Senior High School in the Nanumba North District. The schools contributed 273, 200 and 52 pints of blood respectively. Donating students were provided with food and drinks after the exercise.
Since its launch in 2011, the “Save a Life” campaign has grown into one of the country’s major voluntary blood donation initiatives. It was introduced in response to appeals from the National Blood Service over low blood stocks. To date, the campaign has mobilised more than 35,000 pints of blood.
Chief Blood Organiser at the Tamale Blood Bank of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ziblim Adam, commended MTN Ghana Foundation and Cal Bank for sustaining the initiative annually.
He said health facilities in the Tamale Metropolis frequently experience blood shortages, particularly at maternity wards and theatres. According to him, the central blood bank is able to supply only about 30 per cent of required blood, with the remainder often sourced from family and friends of patients.
Mr Adam noted that this year’s exercise was timely as it coincided with the Ramadan period, when blood demand can increase. He said the donations would help meet the needs of pregnant women, road crash victims and children requiring transfusions.
Senior Nursing Officer at Tamale West Hospital, Alhassan Ismail, said donors underwent routine health checks, including weight and blood pressure assessments, before donating. Those with underlying health conditions were excluded, while successful donors were issued cards.
Northern Territory Sales Controller at MTN Ghana, Richard Asamane, said the initiative forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts.
“Ghana still faces a significant blood shortage, and every pint donated becomes a lifeline for someone’s parent, child, friend or colleague,” he said.
He urged corporate bodies and eligible members of the public to support blood donation efforts to help save lives.
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