Cape coast: Holy Child School has marked its 80th Anniversary with a landmark blood donation exercise, collecting 424 units to support healthcare delivery in the Central Region. The initiative, the first of its kind on the school's campus, brought together students, alumni, staff, and volunteers in a united effort to save lives.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event was organised by the Holy Child Past Students Association (HOPSA) in collaboration with the School, the Kaysens Group, and Kwaaba Foundation as part of the annual March Blood Donation Campaign. A statement noted that the collected blood would be distributed to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Swedru Government Hospital to help address critical shortages, particularly in emergencies.
Maame Kwaaba Stephens, the Founder of Kwaaba Foundation and Kaysens Group, mentioned that over 2,000 students, teachers, and staff gathered at the school's chapel after a sensitisation session highlighting the urgency of the cause. The exercise also saw participation from students of St. Augustine's College, Ghana National College, Mankessim Senior High Technical School, and volunteer groups like the Westlands Keepfit Club and the National Blood Donors Association of Ghana.
Maame Kwaaba addressed misconceptions about blood donation, especially among women, and encouraged young female students to engage actively in lifesaving efforts. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the HOPSA Class of 1971 donated five blood donor beds valued at GHS25,000 to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, enhancing its capacity for blood collection and storage.
The organisers and stakeholders were commended for their initiative, which not only contributed to the national blood reserves but also instilled values of compassion, leadership, and civic responsibility among students. The group urged the public to make voluntary blood donation a regular practice to help save lives.
Gratitude was expressed to sponsors, corporate institutions, and media partners for their unwavering commitment to the success of the exercise. Mrs. Linda Appiah, Headmistress of the school, praised the organisers for the initiative and encouraged students to seize opportunities to donate blood and save lives during emergencies.