The National Blood Service held its 2022 Annual Performance Review Meeting on March 9, 2023.

The meeting was attended by various stakeholders from the health sector and the media.

The objective was to take stock of the performance of the Service’s activities for the year under review and to adopt strategies for improved and effective blood collection for the years ahead.

The well attended APR meeting was chaired by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Health, Madam Tina Mensah.

In her welcome address, the CEO of the National Blood Service, Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori thanked all stakeholders, Management, and staff of the Service for good work done over the year, despite the various challenges.

Dr. Owusu-Ofori enumerated some challenges such as logistics, equipment, financing, and personnel, which had hampered the achievements of the Service.

The service, however, chalked up some success.

For instance, the Service collaborated with various institutions and corporate organizations such as Fly Zipline, the Food and Drugs Authority and Rotary Clubs of Accra and Accra Ridge, and several faith-based organizations to organize successful blood drives across the country.

The year under review also saw an increment in the percentage of blood components processed in addition to an improvement in the Blood collection Index of the country.

Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori is hopeful in the coming years the NBS will make greater strides in exercising its mandate with support from partners in both public and private sectors.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Madam Tina Mensah encouraged management and staff of NBS to adopt more innovative strategies in ensuring blood safety for all.

Madam Tina advised the NBS team to ensure in their quest for achieving their target, 100 percent of the blood collected comes from voluntary sources.