Avert danger at Blood Bank

The Daily Graphic believes that this is a serious issue that we must all join forces to help address.

We do not think that we have to wait for our dear ones to be diagnosed of requiring blood transfusion before we rush to donate, for it is possible that by the time the blood is screened for transfusion, the patient may have passed on.

That is why we must develop the volunteering spirit to donate to stock the blood bank, so that in case of emergencies, there will be blood to fall on.

We must admit that many potential donors may shy away from donating blood for fear that they may be told that they have an ailment which makes their blood unwholesome.

The Daily Graphic thinks that it is even better for such donors, since it will give them the opportunity to seek medical care for otherwise unknown ailments. It is true that the fear of being diagnosed of HIV/AIDS may be driving many people away from donating blood to the blood bank.

Interestingly, those who shy away from donating blood are often the first to call on the leadership of their churches and people in positions of trust to intercede on their behalf in times of emergency, with the promise of donating to replace what has been given out.

But who should donate to stock the blood bank for use in emergencies?

We are happy that the authorities at the blood bank have initiated a series of programmes to get many more people to donate blood to help stock the bank.

The Daily Graphic thinks that it is an exercise that all of us must embrace, since it will inure to our benefit. This is because persons in need of blood next time could be our colleagues in the offices, church members, schoolmates or relatives, some of whom can pass on for lack of blood.

We must all join forces to save the blood bank now.