Catholic Archdiocese Of Accra Organises Health Walk And Blood Donation Exercise

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra as part of activities marking its 125th Anniversary has organized a health walk and blood donation exercise at the various deaneries of the Archdiocese to help stock the National Blood Bank.

The exercise, which took place at the various deaneries including; Kpehe, Osu, Madina, Tema-Battor and Kaneshie, was meant to contribute to the number of blood needed by the National Blood Service to save patients including road accident victims, women requiring blood following childbirth, amongst others and a health walk exercise to improve the fitness and strength of members to enhance their general wellbeing.

Participants from the Kpehe Deanery converged at the St. Paul Catholic Church to undertake the exercise to save lives.

Father Peter Hesse, the Dean of the Kpehe Deanery, said the exercise formed part of the church's mission aimed at giving sound health lives to the citizenry.

He said: 'The Church is missionary in identity and the missionary work goes beyond holding the bible and preaching. We believe in practicality. Matthew 25:40, 'whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me'.

'We know the Blood Bank has been asking for donors all of this while and we think is fitting and proper to do so as we celebrate our 125th Anniversary. So this is part of the social impact and contribution of the Church to the nation.

'The Church exists in a State and as such must always contribute its quota and we do this anyway in myriads of ways'

Father Hesse said the Catholic Church organises the blood donation exercise every year but does not give it Archdiocesan image, adding that 'every year almost every parish organises blood donation in the Parish, this time round it is been done on the Archdiocesan level because of the Anniversary year'.

The exercise at the Kpehe Deanery attracted more than 200 donors who donated more than 120 pints of blood. They were screened of their hemoglobin, weight, blood level, blood pressure and pulse.

Mr Michael Sottie, Deputy Chief Blood Donor Organiser, National Blood Service, Korle-Bu, lauded the Church, leaders and members for the kind gesture that would go a long way to save lives.

Mr Isaac Amesi, a donor and member of the Church, expressed happiness at being able to help save lives through the donation.

At the St Joseph Catholic Church in Nii Boiman which falls under the Kaneshie Deanery, more than 200 donors donated blood to save lives.

Very Father Edmund Donkor-Baine, the Dean of Kaneshie Deanery, called on the public to emulate the Church's gesture as blood is priceless.

Mr Samuel Kwesi Nunoo, the Blood Donor Organiser at the Ridge Hospital, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency appealed to Ghanaians to voluntarily donate blood every four months and live a healthy life to be able to save lives.

The year-long celebration which started from Saturday December 2, 2017 to Sunday November 25, 2018 is under the theme: '125 Years of Catholic Mission in Accra: Renewing Our Commitment to Evangelism''. The slogan for the anniversary is: ''Arise Catholic Faithful, Rejoice and Renew''.

The Anniversary has seen activities such as rosary pilgrimages, vespers, a focus on children as God's gift to the Archdiocese, brass band, carnival and cultural display and Episcopal Silver Jubilee of Archbishop Palmer-Buckle.

The year-long celebration would be climaxed with a Holy Mass at the Black Star Square on Sunday November 25, 2018.

Quality Life Assurance Company Limited donated boxes of water to support the exercise.

GNA
By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA