Ghana Methodist Students Union organises blood donation

The Ghana Methodist Students Union (GHAMSU) has organised a blood donation exercise at the campus of the University of Ghana in Accra.

The programme was undertaken in collaboration with the 37 Military Hospital, to stock the hospital’s blood bank.
Even though attendance was poor at the beginning, a lot more students from the University of Ghana participated later. As part of the exercise, the donors were given free medical screening and the necessary medications were prescribed for them.
  
Reason for the exercise
Speaking to the media, the GHAMSU National Co-ordinator, Mr Isaac Kofi Addison, said the exercise was the maiden one by the union and was aimed at encouraging people to donate blood to the 37 Military Hospital’s blood bank and indicated that the exercise would be made an annual affair.
He added that the exercise was part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of GHAMSU next year, and explained that similar exercises would be undertaken in Tamale at the Nyankpala Campus of the University for Development Studies.
He also encouraged the youth to make blood donation a habit and part of their lifestyle.

More women donating
A laboratory scientist at the 37 Military Hospital, Lieutenant Kwapong Yaw Kissiedu, said although there was the perception that blood donation was solely for men, because women could not donate blood due to their monthly mentrual cycle, the number of women who participated in the exercise was very encouraging.

Blood Bank.
He assured Ghanaians that the 37 Military Hospital had the right stock of blood in its blood bank to run the facility.
However, he said, the hospital believed in the policy that blood should wait for the patients and not the patients waiting for the blood, and commended GHAMSU for the initiative, urging other organisations to emulate their example to help save lives.
“Although the expected units of blood were not met, the exercise was successful”, Lt Kissiedu added.