Tamale: The MTN Ghana Foundation has successfully mobilized 525 units of blood from three Senior High Schools in the Northern Region as part of this year's Save A Life Campaign. The initiative aims to supply blood banks in the region to enhance healthcare services.
According to Ghana News Agency, the blood donation exercise was carried out at Tamale Senior High School, which collected 273 units, Tamale Islamic Science Senior High School with 200 units, and Bimbilla Senior High School, which contributed 52 units. This exercise is part of the MTN Ghana Foundation's ongoing commitment to encouraging voluntary blood donations to support healthcare delivery nationwide.
Mr. Richard Asemane, the Northern Regional Territory Sales Controller of MTN Ghana, stated during the exercise in Tamale that the Foundation aims to collect 640 pints of blood in the region and 7,000 pints across the country. Over the years, the blood collected through this initiative has been distributed to various health facilities, including Tamale Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and Ridge Hospital.
This year's exercise is part of MTN Ghana's 30th anniversary celebrations, contributing to national development initiatives such as health interventions. Mr. Ziblim Adam, Chief Blood Donor Organizer at Tamale Teaching Hospital, highlighted the ongoing challenge of low voluntary blood donations in the Northern Sector, which currently meets only about 30% of the facility's annual demand through voluntary donors.
Mr. Adam also emphasized the difficulty in mobilizing rare blood groups, particularly negative types, which comprise only about five percent of every hundred donations. The timing of the exercise was considered beneficial as it occurred before the Ramadan fasting period when voluntary donations typically decline.
He addressed misconceptions surrounding blood donation, refuting claims that donated blood is sold or used for rituals. He clarified that the processing fee covers laboratory screening, testing, and equipment costs, not payment for the blood itself. He urged the public to engage in voluntary blood donation, noting that a single unit of blood can potentially save up to three lives, especially those of infants.