Mobile telephony giant, MTN Ghana through the ‘Save a Life Foundation’ are targeting nearly 400 units of blood for both Upper East and North East Regions.
This follows the conduct of a blood donation exercise by the network through the foundation in a bid to stock major blood banks in the two regions with blood for the treatment and management of various conditions especially victims of road crashes and pregnant women.
The lifesaving gesture, which has been running for over a decade, was instituted to give staff of MTN, members of the public, and partners an opportunity to show love by donating blood on Valentine’s Day.
Through the foundation, the annual blood donation exercise is carried out across all 16 regions of Ghana and this saw officials in the region conduct the exercise at separate venues including the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, Bolgatanga Senior High School (Big BOSS), and Zamse Senior High Technical School (ZAMSTECH) on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Over the years, the ‘Save a Life Foundation’ project got some recognition having been adjudged the ‘Highest Corporate Blood Donor’ in 2013.
Speaking to newsmen, MTN Team Lead for Upper East and North East Regions, Martin Yawa Kumubah, says the main reason for the project is in response to the dire need of blood by various blood banks across the country.
He indicated that the donated blood will help the Upper East Regional Hospital, Bongo District Hospital, and War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo, and major hospitals in the North East Region.
He indicates that the target for Upper East is 250 units while that of North East is 150 units of blood
“We have been doing this for more than a decade and this is in response to the appeal by the Ghana Blood Bank that they need blood. So, every year, on Valentine’s Day, we organize this exercise to replenish all blood banks across Ghana. We are doing some here at BOTECH, ZAMSTECH, and BIG BOSS to replenish the blood bank at the Regional Hospital, War Memorial, Bongo, and Nalerigu Hospital. We are motivated by how this initiative is saving the lives of others.” He stated.
A Donor Nurse at the Upper East Regional Hospital’s blood bank underscored the need for people to regularly donate blood to the hospital as she highlights the health benefits of blood donation.
“It is important to donate blood because some people come and they do not have a relation and this goes a long way to help them. So, pregnant women and accident victims are the most beneficiaries.”
