Posted by Haagen P. Cumlet on Nov 30, 2011

Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Ghana's Minister of Health, has pledged the government’s commitment to ensure the provision of adequate blood supply to meet clinical needs of patients, the website VibeGhana.com reports.

The Minister of Health made the pledge in a speech read on his behalf at the 11th National Blood Donor Day and Launch of the Annual Blood Donation Campaign in Accra.

It is under the auspices of two Rotary Clubs in the capital, RC of Accra and RC Accra Ridge, on the theme “More Blood More Life” in cooperation with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).

He said blood supply was an essential service to all Ghanaians and therefore urged the citizenry to continue with the support to voluntary blood donation exercises and campaigns.

Mr Yieleh Chireh called on Ghanaians to continue donating blood and make it a responsibility to contribute to the quota of bold donation.

Mr Winfred A. Mensah, District Governor Nominee of Rotary District 9100, said it was important to note that thousands of lives were saved each year in Ghana by the generous service of these donors through transfusion.

He said the NBTS needed to collect 250,000 units of blood annually in order to make available adequate, safe and efficacious blood affordable and accessible to all patients who required blood transfusion therapy across the country.

Mr Mensah said by the selfless service of regular voluntary unpaid donors, health workers had found the blood donated safer due to the processes they go through .

Mr Mensah said voluntary blood donation was on the decline and therefore urged more volunteers to join hands to move forward in selfless services to patients in hospitals and clinics who needed blood transfusion therapy.

Mr Ben Adomako, President of Rotary Club Accra, said the club had been able to identify the needs in the communities and had therefore provided and equipped health centres in the country.

He said donation of blood should be of service above self esteem, therefore Ghanaians should learn to give back to communities without counting the cost.