World commemorates blood donor day: Public urged to volunteer to save lives
The Bono Regional Manager for Blood bank has called for the need for the general public to volunteer to donate blood to feed the blood bank to enable it save lives.
Nana Ama Asiedu Francisca 
Head of the blood bank at the Bono Regional Hospital in Sunyani, Abdul Ganiu has reiterated the need to donate voluntarily to ensure that everyone who needs safe blood has access to it.
He said, “all countries need voluntary, unpaid donors who give blood regularly”. He commended all donors acknowledging their efforts in saving human lives even in these hard times.
Mr Ganiu said the extraordinary effort during a time of unprecedented crisis highlights the crucial role of well-organized, committed voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors in ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply during normal and emergency times. His comments come as the country join the world to celebrate World Blood Donor Day.
World Blood Donor Day takes place on 14 June each year and it is aimed at raising global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems.
The day also provides an opportunity to call to action to governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.
Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are critical aspects of care and public health. They save millions of lives and improve the health and quality of life of many patients every day. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not. Blood shortages are particularly acute in developing countries. For 2021, the World Blood Donor Day slogan will be “Give blood and keep the world-beating”.
Speaking to Soiree News, Mr Ganiu however blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, for the shortage of blood at the bank and called on the general public to donate as measures have been put in place to protect them from infections.
According to him, the facility needs a minimum of 20 pints of blood to tackle emergency cases and expressed worry over the current situation at the bank.
