Doctors, Nurses Donate Blood As Shortage Hits Eastern Regional Hospital

Staff of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua (ERHK), are donating blood to stock the blood bank of the hospital which has been hit by massive blood shortage.

The hospital started experiencing blood shortage in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic .

However, the situation has not seen any significant improvement compelling management of the hospital to fall on its staff to stock the blood bank.

The Medical Director Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw and other doctors, nurses and midwives have been donating blood to save lives of their patients.

The blood donation campaign initiated by Management of the Hospital dubbed; “A Pint of Blood to Save Lives” recently saw staff at the Obstetric & Gynaecology, and the Paediatric Department donate pints blood for the for bank.

Other departments at the hospital are expected to take their turn in subsequent days.

Ghana has failed to achieve 100 per cent voluntary blood donation status as required by the World Health Organization (WHO) albeit increasing demand for blood transfusion.

Statistics from the WHO indicates that only 62 countries globally have almost achieved the 100 per cent of their national blood supplies from voluntary unpaid blood donations, with thirty-four others including Ghana still dependent on family replacement blood donors.

Government of Ghana’s delay in passing the National Blood Service Bill, which seeks to provide the requisite legal framework to accelerate progress towards 100 percent voluntary blood donation, is compounding the situation in the country.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh