800 turn up for Peace FM blood donation drive

Eight hundred people last weekend turned up at a blood donation campaign held at the premises of an Accra-based radio station, Peace FM.

A number of the potential donors came from as far as Winneba and Nkawkaw, and slept overnight at the forecourts of Peace FM.

The campaign was promoted by Peace FM, under the auspices of the National Blood Transfusion Service, and in conjunction with the 37 Military Hospital, which provided additional human resource for the pre-donation screening, and blood donation processes.

Chief Blood Donor Organiser of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Mr. George K. Ahiadzro, expressed delight at the high turnout, and the orderly manner in which potential donors went through the processes.

Speaking to The Chronicle Mr. Ahiadzro indicated that more than 800 units of blood would be donated after the potential donors had been assessed on basis of weight, haemoglobin levels, blood pressure, and other health-related factors.

According to Mr. Ahiadzro, the shelf-life for donated blood was 35 days, and appealed to Ghanaians to donate blood regularly.

He also suggested that Peace FM should organise its successful blood donation drives on an annual, rather than bi-annual basis.

Mr. Faddah Dickson, Head of Administration and Finance at Peace FM, thanked all those who came from far and near to donate blood, and help save lives in the nation's hospitals. The donors, he added, also helped Peace FM to fulfill its promise to Ghanaians.

The drive was sponsored by Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, SBC Beverages Ghana, Ernest Chemists, Vodafone, Rocksters Aluminium, Kinaphama and Osons Chemists.