Blood storage at Swedru Hospital: NGO suggests alternatives

The Ghana Coalition of NGO's on Health has suggested that authorities at the Agona Swedru Municipal Government Hospital in the Central Region should look for other alternatives for the storage of blood instead of storing them in domestic refrigerators.

The coalition says health centers in Winneba and Apam could help store the blood instead of keeping them under inappropriate conditions to spoil.

The Chairman of the Coalition, Dr. Cecilia Bentsi was responding to media reports that Swedru Hospital stored blood and chemicals in domestic fridges.

Dr. Bentsi told Asempa News that storing the blood in its original refrigeration is even difficult to handle, let alone storing them in domestic fridges.

She said frequent opening of the domestic fridge would interfere with the required temperature for storage of the blood.

Dr. Bentsi explained that if care is not taken those who would benefit from the blood so stored, could also develop other ailments, which could even lead to death.

She therefore appealed to government and to corporate organizations to go to the aid of the hospital and help them acquire the required refrigeration equipment to ensure safe blood for the sick.

Dr. Bentsi also appealed to Ghanaians to donate more blood to hospitals saying “most hospitals do not have enough blood for emergencies.”

Story: Kwaku Antwi-Otoo/Asempa FM/Ghana