By Jacob Aggrey
The Korean Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), Ghana Branch, has commenced a blood donation, as part of their annual activities. The aim of the exercise is to support the inflow of blood to the national bank.
The blood after donation will be given to three hospitals in the country. The Princess Mary Hospital, Ussher Polyclinic and the Greater Accra regional Hospital.
The President of KOFIH, Dr. Ralph Armah said the group is expecting more people to donate their blood because his team have gone round the Community to sensitize and educate them on the need for blood donation.
He underscored the importance of voluntary blood donation to save lives and urged Ghanaians and foreign residents to support the activities of the National Blood Bank to help save the lives of expectant mothers, as well as accident victims who required blood transfusion.
“It will help reduce maternal mortality from postpartum hemorrhage, antepartum hemorrhage and other bleeding conditions associated with pregnancy”, he said.
Dr. Ralph Armah said the objectives of the campaign was to bring to the fore the importance of blood donation as a life-saving opportunity and to create a common platform in all regions for the mobilisation of donors.
The President assured citizens that the exercise will be done quarterly to support areas with blood shortage.
The Health Advisor of KOFIH, Ghana Branch, in an interview with GBC News gave a brief history about the foundation.
She said KOFIH global was founded in 2006 as a public agency affiliated with the late Dr. Lee Jong-wook, the 6th Director General of the World Health Organization.
Dr Kim Eunji said the exercise in the midst of Covid-19 could accelerate activities for the Community and health professionals.
A member of KOFIH global said the foundation started in 2014 in Ghana when Doctors, lawyers and even Nurses were sent to Korea to understudy how the country is managed.
“The KOFIH foundation has collaborated with us with full sponsorship to undertake this blood donation exercise” she said.
The member noted that there were many more of such projects coming to Ghana, especially the Greater Accra region.
According to the organisers, blood transfusions take place daily and this saves the lives of many people in Ghana and the world as a whole.
Donating blood is good for the health of donors as well as recipients. It helps lower the risk of hemochromatosis, prevent heart and liver ailments caused by iron overload as well as boost the production of new blood cells and generally promote good health in donors.
Donors had their weight, blood pressure and haemoglobin levels checked.
They were also educated on the importance of healthy living, refreshed and also presented with some souvenirs (exercise books, pens).
