The Medical Directorate of the University of Professional Studies, Accra has organised a blood donation exercise to help stock the blood bank of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
The exercise forms part of efforts by the Directorate to contribute towards the supply of blood at the hospital as referral cases to the health facility increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. David Ansah, administrator at the UPSA Medical Centre, in underscoring the importance of the exercise said “donating blood is good for the health of donors as well as recipients.”
He reiterated the University’s commitment to safeguarding the health and welfare of its students and staff through effective and efficient health care delivery.
The blood donation exercise took place at the Ewuntoma Medical Centre on Wednesday, January 27 and was conducted by a medical team from the regional hospital led by Mr. Asante Yeboah, the Head of Blood Bank and deputy head of Laboratory.
The laboratory technician noted that the Coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of emergency cases recorded at the various hospitals – a situation which has resulted in shortage of blood in the various blood banks.
“We are in critical need of blood,” Mr Yeboah said. “Our daily blood consumption is between 30 to 50 units however, what we receive from blood donors is just around 15 to 20 units.”
He, therefore, commended the Management of the University for the kind gesture and called on other institutions to emulate it, especially around this time when Ghana and most parts of Africa are experiencing the second phase of the deadly pandemic.
In all, over fifty students and staff participated in the exercise. Participants were also educated on the importance of healthy living. They were refreshed and also presented with some souvenirs.
