Ghana Has Less Than 40 Per Cent Voluntary Blood Donors

Ghana has less than forty per cent of voluntary blood donors, the Director of the National Blood Service, Dr Justina K. Ansah has said. According to her, the country was yet to reach a state of accuracy and safety in blood donation due to the many socio-cultural perceptions held by many on the need to donate blood. She said that had led to the problem of contract blood donors whose blood, sometimes were unwholesome. Speaking at a blood donation exercise organised by Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Dr Ansah said there was the need for people to embark on voluntary blood donations since it was the safest supply of blood. She, therefore, encouraged people to view blood donation as a civic responsibility, adding that, �let the strong in society contribute to the weak in society.� ��We are not self-sufficient as a country but I believe we can do it if all of us change our mind-sets,� she said. The Managing Director of GCGL, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, noted that blood donation was about giving back not just to society but to the donor too. �It is said that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. Then what do you think about the love that the Lord will have for someone who gives life? Because, once you give blood to somebody at a very critical time when the person needs to be saved, that is what is given to the person,� he said. �There is no substitute for blood. There is nothing else that can substitute for blood,� Mr Ashigbey stressed.