MTN Ghana has commissioned a three hundred thousand blood bank facility at the Cape Coast Teaching hospital.
The facility which was funded solely by MTN Ghana forms part of the mobile telecommunications efforts in contributing to the increasing the blood stock at the Cape Coast Teaching hospital.
Commissioning the facility which also coincided with the World Blood Donor Day which is marked today, Chief CORPORATE Officer for MTN Mr Samuel Koranteng said he was optimistic the facility will improve blood storage in the hospital and in effect avert any form of avoidable blood related occurrences.
He noted that “We started the project in February 2020, then the pandemic set in. it had delayed the project although we intended to it to have completed it within four months because of the importance of blood donation and its saving lives component within hospitals among others.”
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The donated facility is made up of a reception area, a waiting area for blood donors, washrooms, blood donning rooms, screening rooms, an office and it is fully equipped with the necessary equipments for the process of blood donation. It also has a storage room and storge fridges.
Mr. Koranteng explained that the commissioning of the blood bank is part of activities to mark MTN’s 25th Anniversary.
“We are rolling out several promotions to say thank you to our customers,” he added.
On his part the chief executive officer of the Cape Coast Teaching hospital, Dr. Eric Kofi Ngyedu the facility has come at a time the hospital needs it most in addressing the high-rate maternal mortality.
He narrated, “I am saddened to say that we have recorded 23 maternal cases this year. Postpartum hemorrhage has accounted for the highest number of these deaths which is not different from the previous years. It was in this light that the hospital board tasked management to implement recommendations made by the technical and planning committee of the board to renovate and rebrand the hospital blood banks to improve the availability of blood and blood related products. Management filled for the support from MTN foundation and that report has given birth to this beautiful edifice we are commissioning today.”
The Omanhene of Oguaa traditional area Osabarima Kwesi Atta II on his part described the initiative as laudable and further called on management of the hospital to put the facility to good use.
“There is a perception out there that donating blood has its own connotations. Let us educate people for them to know that there is nothing wrong with donating blood. Through education, I believe people will be encouraged to donate blood. Let’s all help make the building functional,” he said.
SOURCE: Kojo Dei/ATLFMNEWS
