Editorial

If you can, donate blood regularly

ProofedThe whole world marked World Blood Donor Day yesterday, June 14. The World Health Organisation (WHO) initiated and declared this day on June 14, 2004 using the birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner.

Landsteiner, born June 14, 1868, in Vienna, Austria and died June 26, 1943 in New York, was an immunologist and pathologist who discovered the major blood groups and the development of the ABO system of blood.

It is based on this system discovered in 1901 that people were classified as having blood types A, B, and O first and later AB.

Ever since their discovery, the blood types have guided transfusion in terms of compatibility as incompatibility can result in immune reactions, which can result in even death.

Therefore, the Ghanaian Times believes that World Blood Day is basically meant to pay tribute to Landsteiner for his indelible and priceless contribution to saving lives.

For this reason, those of us working on the paper wish to urge on medical scientists to put in the best of efforts in their various fields to find solutions to overarching health problems, currently including the COVID-19.

We know that the world would one day celebrate their groundbreaking achievements. 

The rest of us should be reminded that World Blood Donor Day is observed to promote awareness of the need for blood donation to save lives.

The medical truth is that some individuals need blood to stay healthy and that means donation and donors are indispensable in the healthcare system.

This is why at its 58th Globe Health Assembly in May 2005, WHO encouraged all nations to recognise blood donors for their selfless efforts in saving people’s lives.

However, most of the time blood banks at the hospitals, especially those in our dear country, complain of shortage of blood for various reasons, including religious ones.

For instance, according to the country’s health authorities, voluntary blood donation dropped from 33 per cent in 2019 to 17 per cent by the end of 2020 partly due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Blood Service (NBS) says young people have been at the forefront of voluntary blood donation over the years globally and that in Africa and Ghana, young people (less than 30 years) constitute about 75 per cent of donors.

NBS adds that in Ghana, blood donor recruitment drives are more effective in educational institutions and faith-based organisations where the youth make up majority of the membership.” Corporate organisations also donate blood.

The service explains that persons who are eligible to donate blood are those aged 17 to 60 years and that they should heed the humanitarian call to donate blood regularly to save lives and encourage friends and relatives to do same.

We join the appeal by the NBS and commend it for not looking for just blood but safe blood, which it knows how best to get. Blood contaminated in any form or shape can spell doom for recipients.

We are happy that the NBS is at the forefront of numerous efforts and projects aimed at getting safe blood supplies via voluntary, unpaid blood donations to bridge the country’s present demand-supply gap.

The theme for this year’s World Blood Day in Ghana is ‘Safe blood saves lives’, with the global theme “Give blood and keep the world beating” as the slogan.

It is a fact that the body can produce its own blood all things being equal, but for some people, certain ailments and other conditions can mar that.

Therefore, those of us who are eligible should voluntarily and regularly donate blood.

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