By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    G7 finance leaders seek non-tariff consensus in Canada, may face US pushback
    Ahead G7 Summit, Finance Ministers Seek Non-tariff Consensus In Canada, May Face US Pushback
    2 weeks ago
    Over 28,000 Women And Girls Killed In Gaza Since October 2023
    2 weeks ago
    Global Aid Cut
    New Report Reveals How Global Aid Cuts Affecting Women’s Organisations Aiding Women In Crises
    3 weeks ago
    UNICEF Raises Alarm Over 14m Children Worldwide At Risk Of Malnutrition
    2 months ago
    United Nations for Women
    In 8 Days, 830 Killed In Gaza – UN Women Raises Alarm
    2 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    Tunisian President Saied Under Pressure To Resign After ‘Fiasco’ Poll
    2 years ago
    United Nations Experts Charge President Of Zimbabwe To Reject Bill Restricting Civic Space
    2 years ago
    Senegal: Amnesty International Worries Over Deadly Crackdown On Protesters
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    ECOWAS Marathon Race Director Okon Congratulates Commission on 50th Anniversary
    6 days ago
    Africa Day: Majority of Africans Want African Nations Be Given Greater Influence In International Decision-making Bodies
    1 week ago
    Edelman Africa Launches Regional Advisory To Support Global Institution Growth In Africa
    3 weeks ago
    African Union Champions Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Socioeconomic Transformation
    2 months ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Nobody Can Thwart The Will Of Osun People, Adeleke Insists He Won Osun Election
    2 years ago
    Ex Boxing Champion, Akpan Hails Tinubu’s Victory, Applauds MC Oluomo
    2 years ago
    Lagos Speakership: Why Lawmakers-elect Endorsed Obasa – Temitope
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    LG Election: Stakeholders Appeal To APC Not To Allow Chairmen Run For 3rd term
    4 weeks ago
    More APC Chairmanship Aspirants Reject Indirect Primary For Local Govt Elections In Lagos State
    4 weeks ago
    Youth Party Sets May 18 for Lagos LG Primary Elections, Slashes Fees For Women and PWDs
    1 month ago
    Oyo State Faces Herculean Task in Picking Makinde’s Successor – Chief Ayorinde
    2 months 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
    12 months ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    IMSUAA 2025: La-Ghost And Starblaze Could Draw Inspiration From Convention Theme
    5 hours ago
    IMSUAA 2025 Convention: Two Artistes From Lagos Chapter To Light Up Event
    1 week ago
    Lagos SWAN Celebrates Yeni Kuti On Her Special Day
    1 week ago
    Ado Ekiti Honours One of Its Own: A Tribute To Chief Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi
    1 week ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    GOtv
    Yuletide: GOtv Improves Signal Quality In Abuja, Rivers State
    2 years ago
    It’s Easter Holidays with Top Entertaining Programs Showing from this Week on GOtv
    2 years ago
    Hi-Life Fest: Show Progresses With Six Contestants, Features Frederick Leonard As Guest Judge
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Nigerian Idol Season 10 Live Shows Are Underway as the Top 10 Battle for Stardom
    1 week ago
    Nigeria Strengthens Fight Against Content Piracy Through Strategic Partnerships
    2 weeks ago
    Prestige, Impact: Why AMVCA is the People’s Award Show
    4 weeks ago
    Celebrating African Cinema: AMVCA’s Growing Influence in Global Entertainment
    1 month ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    NCC, NICO To Leverage Telecom Channels To Promote Nigerian Cultural Heritage
    12 months ago
    Believe In Healing Power Of Blood Of Jesus – Bishop Tells Congregants
    2 years ago
    Lagos Seeks Strategic Partnership To Drive Tourism
    3 months ago
    Latest News
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    1 week ago
    Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and Toledo Museum of Art Launch Historic Cultural Exchange
    4 weeks ago
    Piracy in Africa’s Creative Sector: How Creators Can Protect Their Content
    1 month ago
    Fanti Carnival Returns To Lagos This Easter Sunday
    2 months ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Lagos Will Continue To Lead Initiatives That Accelerate Economic Diversification – Sanwo-Olu
    2 weeks ago
    Afreximbank
    Afreximbank Reports Strong Performance For Q1 2025 In Line With expectations
    2 weeks ago
    Pan-African Payment & Settlement System
    Nigeria Unlocks Intra-African Trade With New Pan-African Payment & Settlement System Policy Boost
    3 weeks ago
    Impact Of Online Trading Platforms Like Temu On Nigeria’s Economy
    3 weeks ago
    Unity Bank Launches GenFi, Targets Children, Teens With Gamified Banking Platform
    4 weeks ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    MUST READ: Palm Wine Lowers Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, And Supports Heart Health
    2 years ago
    West Africa, Eastern Europe Lead In Cocaine Trafficking Hubs
    2 years ago
    Uk’s £15m Funding To Strengthen Health Workforce In Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Alimosho Football Coaches Council Set For Health, Safety Business Workshop
    2 weeks ago
    World Hypertension Day: Merck Foundation Commits To Improving Cardiovascular And Diabetes Care Across Africa
    3 weeks ago
    First Lady Gives Paediatric Support To Indigent Patients At Lagos General Hospital
    3 weeks ago
    Salt Awareness Week: CAPPA Urges Fed Nigerian Govt To Accelerate Salt Reduction Targets Regulation
    3 weeks 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

Alimosho Football Coaches Council Set For Health, Safety Business Workshop

World Hypertension Day: Merck Foundation Commits To Improving Cardiovascular And Diabetes Care Across Africa

First Lady Gives Paediatric Support To Indigent Patients At Lagos General Hospital

Salt Awareness Week: CAPPA Urges Fed Nigerian Govt To Accelerate Salt Reduction Targets Regulation

VillageReach Names Dr. Ahmed Ogwell As CEO To Drive Its 2030 Strategy

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?