Every day provides an opportunity for well-meaning people living in Ghana to support efforts to increase blood collection and manage access to blood and the transfusion of those who require it. Blood and blood products are essential resources for effectively managing medical confitions requiring blood transfusion therapy. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not.
Blood shortages are particularly acute in our part of the world. Ensuring everyone who needs transfusion gets access to safe blood in Ghana requires that voluntary, unpaid blood donors give blood regularly. The vast and active participation of the Ghanaian populace is essential for us to meet the varied need for blood transfusions in regular times and emergencies or disasters.
It takes the collective effort of every person living in Ghana for us to build a united front to solve the perennial blood shortages in Ghana. This year’s (2022) World Blood Donor Day theme reiterated, “an enabling social and cultural atmosphere with strong solidarity facilitates the development of an effective blood donor programme”. Blood donation is integral to our social fibre and can help us build a united community. It allows us to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
Many people have the will to support but have little knowledge on how and where to help. This article provides information on where one can give blood in Ghana to help the many individuals who need to be saved through a blood transfusion, including women suffering from pregnancy and childbirth-related bleeding; children suffering from malaria and malnutrition-related anaemia; medical disorders patients; trauma and accidents victims; as well as patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.
There are several blood centres and hospital blood banks across the country where blood donors can go and give blood. In Accra, you can go to the Southern Zonal Blood Centre, located off Guggisberg Avenue, adjacent to Korle GCB Bank, behind the ECG Korle Bu district office or 37 Military Hospital Blood Bank. You can google “National Blood Service Ghana – Head Office” for directions to the ultra-modern Blood Centre on Google Map.
In Kumasi, you can go to the Transfusion Medicine Unit inside the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
In Tamale, you can go to the Tamale Teaching Hospital Blood Bank to give blood.
Also, there are blood collection sites in regional and district hospitals across Ghana.
You can call the Donor Contact Centre of the National Blood Service on toll-free number 0800 50 10 10 (Vodafone and MTN only) or 0302 428 940 or send a WhatsApp on 0277 50 10 10 for information on where to give blood.
By Emmanuel Nene Dei (Head Planning, M&E)
