By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    United Nations
    4th International Conference On Financing For Development Delivers Renewed Hope And Action For Sustainable Development
    2 weeks ago
    The African Development Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) scale up drive for sustainable urbanization in Africa
    AfDB, UN-Habitat Scale Up Drive For Sustainable Urbanisation In Africa
    2 weeks ago
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    2 weeks ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    2 weeks ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    3 weeks ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    Horn of Africa Drought: WHO Warns Of Disease Threat
    3 years ago
    Climate Change to Take Centre Stage at Africa Health Agenda International Conference In March 2023
    2 years ago
    Egypt: Mass Arrests Target Family, Supporters of Ex-Member Of Parliament
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    At Gender Statistics Forum, African Leaders Urge Renewed Commitment To Quality Gender Data
    2 weeks ago
    Ooni’s Wife, Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi Takes Ile Ife Royalty To ADWIN Launch In Cote d’Ivoire
    1 month ago
    Independent UN Body Finds Systemic Racism Against Africans And People Of African Descent
    1 month ago
    Public Exit: Why South Africa Businesses Are Moving To Private Cloud
    1 month ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    2023: Tinubu Knocks Obasanjo In Edo
    3 years ago
    Sanwo-Olu
    Lagos Guber Poll: Christians Back Sanwo-Olu For Second Term
    2 years ago
    Remain Calm, Steadfast To The Course – Obi Urges Obidients, Nigerians
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Youth Party Releases Primary Election Guidelines Ahead of August 16 Bye-Elections
    4 days ago
    Youth Party Appreciate Voters, Rejects Lagos Council Polls, Alleges Widespread Rigging
    5 days ago
    Lagos LG Poll: APC’s Osagie Daniel Coasting Home To Victory In Amuwo Odofin’s Ward K
    6 days ago
    Lagos LG Poll: I’ll Bring Government Closer To The People – APC Aspirant
    1 week ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    CAPPA Condemns UI’s Suspension Of Student Activists, Urges Reinstatement
    2 days ago
    She Was an Amazon Who Left Indelible Marks — Ayorinde Pays Tribute to Late Ambassador Adefope
    1 week ago
    IMSUAA 2025 Convention Mascot: A Symbol Of Love, Unity And Cultural Diversity
    2 weeks ago
    Lagos Hosts Groundbreaking Revenue Recovery Summit
    2 weeks ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    BBNaija 7: Sheggz Ready For Disqualification Over Bella
    3 years ago
    Tems Breaks Record At Grammy, First Female Nigerian Artist To Win Award
    2 years ago
    Grammy-Award-Winning Jon Batiste Drops New Anthem to Open Second Season of Coke Studio
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Purp vs Raymu: Who Will Be Crowned The Next Nigerian Idol?
    2 weeks ago
    Local Content Powers African Dreams
    2 weeks ago
    The Drama Returns As BBNaija ‘No Loose Guard’ Reunion Premieres June 23
    4 weeks ago
    You Can’t Fake it — James Omekwe On MultiChoice’s Impact On African Filmmaking
    1 month ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    UNIUYO: PHE Students Dazzle At Sports & Dance Event
    2 years ago
    Global Food Crisis Put Millions Of Young Lives At Risk
    3 years ago
    Gov Sanwo-Olu Makes Case For Smart Packaging To Reduce Food Waste
    10 months ago
    Latest News
    Noble Call to Service: Inside the Induction of 104 New Knights of St. Mulumba
    1 month ago
    Joining The Knighthood Brings You Closer To God -Sir Eva Njemanze
    1 month ago
    Africa Tech Festival Unveils Strategic Themes For 2025 Event,
    1 month ago
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    2 months ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Petralon's Nigerian Drilling Campaign to Boost Offshore Oil Output
    Petralon’s Nigerian Drilling Campaign To Boost Offshore Oil Output
    2 weeks ago
    Year 2025
    How Nigeria Can Unleash Its Economic Potential – IMF
    2 weeks ago
    GTCO Plc Becomes 1st West Africa’s Financial Services Institution To Achieve Listing And Trading Of Its Ordinary Shares On London Stock Exchange
    2 weeks ago
    Unity Bank
    Unity Bank Empowers Young Entrepreneurs With ₦16M Business Grant
    2 weeks ago
    NNPCL Board Accused Of Planning Lavish Party In Rwanda Amidst N210tn Financial Scandal
    4 weeks ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    What Is Monkeypox And Why Is It spreading?
    3 years ago
    Experts Accede To Nigeria’s Progress, Highlight Areas Of Focus For Maintaining Polio-free Status
    2 years ago
    Oxygen Therapy Improves Heart Function In Patients With Long COVID
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    SSB Tax: Industry Actors, Paid Mouthpieces Slammed Over Campaign To Stop CAPPA
    1 week ago
    CAPPA Warns Nigerians On Excessive Consumption Of Sugar-sweetened Beverages, Says Nigeria Is In The Throes Of Public Health Crisis
    2 weeks ago
    Rising Non-communicable Diseases: WHO Wants Higher Taxes For Sugary Drinks, Alcohol, Tobacco
    2 weeks ago
    WHO Unveils Bold Push To Raise Health Taxes And Save Millions Of Lives
    5 days ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: The blood lines: How blood donors are saving lives in Ghana
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Health > The blood lines: How blood donors are saving lives in Ghana
Health

The blood lines: How blood donors are saving lives in Ghana

Last updated: 2023/06/14 at 3:11 PM
2 years ago
Share
WHO
SHARE

A ruptured liver and pulmonary embolism was the faith of Nana Serwaa Brakatuo, when she was involved in a gruesome road traffic accident in December 2022. Internal bleeding that resulted from her injuries compounded her already dire situation.

“When she was rushed into our facility, she had lost a lot of blood. We needed donor blood as a matter of urgency,” recalls Beatrice Mfoafo, a critical care nurse at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana’s capital.

It took three weeks and two surgeries to restore hope for the family of Nana Brakatuo. But for Mfoafo, the 30 units of blood transfusion that were given was the decisive ingredient in the race to save the life of Nana Brakatuo, saying “Despite our expertise, she would not have survived if we had not gotten the blood she needed. The intervention from blood donors and the National Blood Service was what did the magic for her”.

The tragic experience of Nana Brakatuo is not any different from that of 10-year old Benedict Afotey, who needed 5 units of blood to survive when he was rushed to the hospital. These cases are stuck reminders of the critical role blood donors play in saving the lives of people. 

In Ghana, 179 765 blood donations were collected in 2022, with 45 463 being voluntary donations. And for these voluntary blood donors, experiences such as that of Nana Brakatuo and little Afotey continue to motivate and drive them to the national blood bank to donate.

“I believe it is our collective civic responsibility to ensure that blood is readily available for all who need it,” says Henry Nii Abossey Thompson, who has donated blood 100 times since 1976. “It is very fulfilling to give a part of you out to save the life of another person”.

The blood collection index (BCI) per 1000 population increased from 5.7 in 2021 to 5.8 in 2022. Yet, this is still below the WHO recommended minimum collection of 10 units per 1,000 population required to meet basic transfusion needs. As a result, the Ghana National Blood Service, which has been leading the charge to mobilize blood across the country, is intensifying efforts to encourage daily voluntary donations.

“As a service, we welcome new donors daily since an increasingly vibrant blood donor population will keep blood banks adequately stocked,” says Dr Shirley Owusu-Ofori, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service. “Emergencies requiring blood cannot wait; hence, we need blood ready all the time”.

The service has been working with partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen its capacity and advocacy towards blood sufficiency. Over the years, WHO has provided technical and financial support towards driving advocacy and awareness creation activities for the recruitment of unpaid voluntary blood donors to support the availability of safe blood. This is in line with the World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.12 which urges all Member States to develop national blood systems based on voluntary unpaid donations. 

WHO and other partners also supported the National Blood Service to develop the 4th National 5-year Strategic plan, which aligns with WHO’s recommendation for blood collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution to be coordinated at the national level through effective organization and integrated blood supply networks. 

“Supporting Ghana to make blood and other blood components available and accessible to all is a priority for WHO,” noted Dr Angela Ackon, the Technical Officer for Quality and Safety at WHO Ghana. “We are currently using our 75-anniversary activities to advocate and educate people to cultivate the culture of regular voluntary blood donations”.

Nana Serwaa Brakatuo is excited she is now on the path to total recovery and believes she is living proof that blood donors are life savers. “Words cannot express my gratitude to all blood donors,” says a happy Nana Brakatuo. “I am alive today because someone decided to voluntarily donate their blood”.

You Might Also Like

SSB Tax: Industry Actors, Paid Mouthpieces Slammed Over Campaign To Stop CAPPA

CAPPA Warns Nigerians On Excessive Consumption Of Sugar-sweetened Beverages, Says Nigeria Is In The Throes Of Public Health Crisis

Rising Non-communicable Diseases: WHO Wants Higher Taxes For Sugary Drinks, Alcohol, Tobacco

WHO Unveils Bold Push To Raise Health Taxes And Save Millions Of Lives

Online Education Can Enhance Clinical Guideline Use By Over 50% 

TAGGED: Blood Donation, WHO
INadminNG June 14, 2023 June 14, 2023
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article 15-Year-Old Odebode Craves To Play For Nigeria
Next Article Commonwealth Games Federation Launches New Long-term Strategic Plan
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?