A Staff at the Blood Bank unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Abdulai Abdul Malik has encouraged the general public to donate blood voluntarily to save lives. Mr Abdul Malik explained anytime a person donates blood, the human body naturally replaces it within 24 hours.
According to him, blood donors always renew or restart their system anytime they donate, making donors look fresh all the time. He was speaking to Zaa news at a blood donation exercise on the campus of Northern School of Business (NOBISCO).
The donation exercise organized by TTH in partnership with Promasidor (cowbell) is to acquire enough blood to save lives. He asked that people see blood donation as a national responsibility. Mr Abdul Malik however explained that a donor should be between 18-55 years of age with a weight of 50 kg or above with pulse rate, body temperature and blood pressure should be normal.
According to him, there are only few conditions in which donors are permanently excluded, which include a donor with history of epilepsy, psychotic disorders, abnormal bleeding tendencies, severe asthma, cardiovascular disorders, malignancy are permanently unfit for blood donation.
He indicates that donors suffering from diseases like hepatitis, malaria, measles, mumps, and syphilis may donate blood after full recovery with 3-6 months gap.
Therefore he said, blood is not a commodity that can be bought in the market, but rather from humans hence the need for healthy people to voluntarily and genuinely donate. “Blood is not like medicines manufactured and placed in shops for purchase therefore failure to donate blood can cause the lives of many people in need and at risk”, he noted. Mr Malik has therefore appealed and encouraged citizens to adopt blood donation as a habit not for an individual but, for the entire citizenry.
Assistant Marketing Manager for Promasidor- Northern region Mohammed Mumuni Huray noted it is part of Promasidor’s cooperate social responsibility to support in social activities to the well-being of others, especially the vulnerable in society.
Some students who spoke to Zaa news mentioned they were excited to be part of the blood donation exercise. The thanked Promasidor and the TTH for extending such help to the school. ‘’We are so happy that we are doing this not for us but for everyone, it is good and fulfilling to voluntary donate blood to save lives, so we are encouraging the general public to see it as our civil responsibility’’, the students emphasized.
By: Lilian D.Walter/zaanews.com/Ghana
