World Blood Donor Day: MTN Ghana Salutes All Voluntary Blood Donors

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As the world commemorates World Blood Donor Day on 14^th June 2020 under the theme“Safe blood saves lives”, MTN Ghana organises nationwide blood donation exercise to stock the nation’s blood bank.

The slogan for their exercise was ‘Give blood and make the world a healthier place’. Speaking at the program, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng said, “As we celebrate World Blood Donor Day, I would like to salute all individuals who have donated blood to save lives. We say special thanks to those who have participated in “Save a Life” initiative. We commend them highly for the commitment to this cause and for their compassion for humanity”.

Moreover, he urged all eligible donors to donate blood at regular intervals especially when the coronavirus pandemic is to blame for blood shortage in Ghana.

Blood is an important resource for both planned and emergency medical conditions. It is vital for treating patients who find themselves in emergency health situations such as accidents and child birth.  Despite this urgent need for blood, records indicate the general scarcity of safe of blood in blood banks across Ghana. According to the National Blood Services, there is a national demand for about 280,000 units annually. However less than 50 per cent is raised each year. It is against this background that MTN Ghana Foundation has over the years organized an annual blood donation campaign dubbed “Save a Life” to support efforts in restocking blood banks across the country and to help create awareness on the need for safe blood. 

Since the launch of the initiative, the MTN Ghana Foundation along with staff of MTN and their friends and partners have collected over 20,036 units of blood to save lives. This year’s blood donation exercise had a total of 24 donation/bleeding centers in all 16 regions of Ghana. The Foundation also commenced the construction of a GHS 300,000 blood bank for the maternity wing of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The blood bank is expected to be completed by end of October 2020. 

Background:

The MTN Ghana Foundation was established in November 2007 as the vehicle to select and implement MTN’s Corporate Social Investments. MTN Ghana Foundation has three areas of focus – Health, Education and Economic Empowerment.  From inception to December 2018, the Foundation had undertaken 147 major projects across the country. Notable health projects include: construction of a Neonatal Care Center for Tamale Teaching Hospital, refurbishment of the 2^nd floor maternity block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, construction of a maternity block for Ejisu Government Hospital, and construction of an Emergency Center for Atua Government Hospital. Education projects undertaken include: construction of a boys dormitory for Akropong School for the Blind, construction of a six-unit classroom block for Kodjonya Millennium School, establishment of 10 MTN ICT Learning Centers in each of Ghana’s 10 regions(then) and the institution of an Innovation Hub at KNUST to promote Telecoms Engineering and Research. Key projects undertaken in Economic Empowerment include: the construction of shea butter processing centers, provision of seed capital and skill training for Women of Tizaa Dini Association of Yendi and the Sung Suma Women Association of Wa. 

By: Radio1News|Ghana