Regard blood donation as national duty — Rev Badu-Sekyere

A Presbyterian Minister, Rev. Joseph Badu-Sekyere, has impressed on the public to accept blood donation as a responsibility and social service to the nation.

He said as citizens of the same nation, Ghanaians were one people, hence one big way of helping one another was to donate blood, especially to those who needed it.

Rev. Badu-Sekyere, the Adabraka Official Town District Minister, was speaking at a blood donation exercise organised by the Young Adult Fellowship (YAF), as part of activities marking the fifth anniversary celebration of the Fellowship.

National demand for blood

National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) figures indicate that national demand for blood is more than 250,000 units annually but the national collection is far less than 50 per cent.

Apart from serving as a welfare group for the youth in the church, the YAF is also used as a vehicle for winning souls.

Rev Badu-Sekyere pointed out that churches were part of society and, therefore, it was their social responsibility to keep the Korle-Bu Blood Bank, as well as others in the country, running.

“The Presbyterian Church believes that Ghanaians need sound health to listen to the word of God, hence our decision to donate blood.  We ensure people have sound health before evangelism,” he said.

Advice to Ghanaians on blood donation

He advised the youth and churches in the country to emulate the example of YAF to save the country from losing citizens.

In an interview, Mr Elliot Ofori-Semanhyia, District President of YAF, said, “Ghanaian youth must take God and His commandments seriously by adhering to the word of God.”

He added his voice to the call on the public to donate blood as a way of helping their neighbours and fulfilling the word of God.

Challenges of NBTS

The Accra Area National Blood Transfusion Service Recruitment Officer, Mr Stephen Danso, recounted some challenges faced by NBTS.

He said usually blood donors were scared that blood donation was painful and that a donor would lose weight in the long run.

He dispelled the belief that blood donation might lead to impotency and infections.

By Charles Andoh/Daily Graphic/Ghana
Writer’s email: [email protected]