The MTN “Save a Life” project, which is an annual Valentine’s Day blood donation exercise started in 2011 has so far collected 6,226 pints of blood through voluntary donation and the company is expecting to collect 2,750 pints of blood from all locations to celebrate ten years of MTN’s existence in Ghana.
This year’s edition of the MTN “Save a Life” Blood donation forms part of activities marking the 10th Anniversary of MTN Ghana Foundation which will end in April 2018.
Addressing donors as well as the media today to mark the 7th edition of its “Save a Life” project at the MTN House at Ridge in Accra, the Acting Coporate Services Executive of MTN, Mrs. Pala Asiedu Ofori said the MTN Ghana Foundation gives MTN staff and other individuals the opportunity to donate blood and stock the National Blood Bank and other regional hospitals.
She averred that the initiative started in 2011 in response to calls made by the National Blood Transfusion Service for voluntary contributions to replenish critically low stocks of blood.
The annual blood donation exercise organised by MTN Ghana Foundation begun with three bleeding centres in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi but was later extended to all ten regions across the country.
Mrs. Pala Asiedu Ofori said this year’s exercise, which is the seventh in a series, forms part of an annual exercise instituted by the telecoms company to celebrate Valentine’s Day, saying that “this year’s edition forms part of activities marking the 10th Anniversary of MTN Ghana Foundation….The theme for the anniversary “Celebrating Ten Years of Brightening Lives, Inspiring a Brighter Future,” resonates with what we are doing today.”
She also pointed out that the Foundation has made great strides within a short period and that though the achievements have been enormous, there is still much to be done as in many hospitals across the country, lives are threatened by lack of blood and many people still rely on family members or paid donors.
She said: “The family replacement system os currently the highest form of Blood donations, at 64% nationwide. In order to raise awareness and increase the numbers of voluntary donations, the MTN Ghana Foundation continues to commit resources for voluntary blood donations.”
She continued to indicate that donating blood saves millions of lives every year in Ghana and across the world and that MTN Ghana Foundation will not relent in its efforts to achieve that.
According to her through the donation the company as well as donors are showing love to family and friends on Valentine’s Day by “giving the gift of life to those in need.”
She expressed the hope that the blood collected will go a long way to supplement the needs of the selected blood banks.
“Most importantly it is our hope that with the continued help of all our volunteers, Ghana will achieve the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal of obtaining 100% voluntary and unpaid blood donation by 2020,” she said.
“As a nation, we experience a perennial shortage of blood at the National Blood Bank and other regional hospitals due to inadequate numbers of voluntary donors. MTN is committed to making lives a whole lot brighter and that is why we are championing this cause which is critical to the survival of many people.”
She also appealed that: “We are calling on other corporate institutions and the general public to come out to support our efforts by donating blood.”
Meanwhile, in recognition for its efforts, the MTN Ghana Foundation was been adjudged the highest corporate blood donor in 2013, the second highest corporate donor in 2014 and one of the highest corporate donors in 2015.
By: PROSPER AGBENYEGA