By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
MTN Ghana, in conjunction with health authorities in the Upper West Region, has organised blood donation exercise to support health delivery in the Region.
The partnership is anchored on ‘The Save-a-life Project’ of MTN Ghana Foundation, which is the corporate social investment arm of MTN Ghana.
The Upper West exercise, which was coordinated by the MTN Manager for Wa, Seth Owusu Nyamekye, and his counterpart in Jirapa, Frederick Opare raised 260 units of blood.
The exercise took place at Wa Zongo, Wa Senior High School and St. Francis of Assisi Girls Senior High School in Jirapa.
Speaking to the GBC about the exercise, a Deputy Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist, Madam Nuhaila Issaka Koray, reiterated that blood is one of the most vital commodities needed to deliver quality healthcare services. She therefore entreated the public to come and donate blood voluntarily to enable health facilities to have adequate amount of the various categories of blood to save lives when the need arises.
Madam Nuhaila Koray encouraged people to be bold, feel free, and walk into any blood bank to donate blood, noting that, “it is a priceless exercise which is as good as giving someone a life”.
The Deputy Chief Laboratory Scientist observed, “imagine you need blood, you have all the money in the world, but you don’t have a compatible donor, you can’t go anywhere and buy the blood, your money will be there and we will lose you.”
Madam Nuhaila Koray reemphasized the necessity of voluntary blood donation to help surmount the challenges associated with getting a compatible donor in times of emergency.
She was very thankful to MTN Ghana for the partnership and encouraged other public-spirited individuals and organisations to emulate the example.