The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has embarked on a nationwide blood donation drive, aiming to collect over 2,500 pints of blood to significantly boost Ghana’s national blood bank.
The exercise, a key part of the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), was launched at the FDA Headquarters in Accra on Friday.
Mr Seth Kwaku Seaneke, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Health, Products and Technologies at the FDA, underscored the critical importance of the exercise.
“We dedicate this day to donate blood by our staff and our collaborators so that we can replenish the National Blood Bank of the needed blood,” he said.
Mr Seaneke stressed that blood was a vital medical product that could not be manufactured and must be donated to meet the needs of accident victims, patients with anaemia, women in childbirth, and others with various health conditions.
He encouraged other public and corporate organizations to emulate the FDA’s example, noting the constant news of blood shortages.
The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum blood collection index of 10 units per 1,000 people to meet basic transfusion needs, a target Ghana currently falls short of.
Mr Seaneke said the donation drive was not limited to the headquarters; confirming that all FDA regional offices throughout the country were expected to conduct the same exercise to achieve the ambitious target of 2,500 pints.
He appealed to the public to support the drive by donating, adding: “It is very important and even helps you to be healthier.”
He assured potential donors that the necessary checks would be made to ensure their suitability before donating.
The exercise saw a high level of enthusiastic FDA staff as they lay on the beds ready to donate blood.
The exercise also featured side events as the staff participated in various games.
Ms Mary Vivian Hammond, a staff and a third-time donor, described the process as “smooth.”
She advised colleagues who had not yet participated to do so, emphasising the life-saving impact.
“It helps when you’re able to save someone, because there have been circumstances where people die due to lack of blood. If we all come together and donate, I think we’ll form a very big community to help each other,” she added.
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