NIC launches 2022 blood donation campaign
In an effort to support blood donation in Ghana, the National Insurance Commission has launched the 2022 blood donation campaign.
The launch done on Tuesday August 9, 2022, saw the participation of industry bodies such as the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA), the Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG), the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana (CIIG), the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Secretariat, the Ghana Insurance College (GIC) and the West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA).
According to the Commissioner of Insurance, Justice Yaw Ofori, the launch marks the continuation of the journey to support the blood donation exercise the NIC started a year ago.
Adding that blood is very vital to our lives and if one losses blood in excess, he or she may die hence blood donation becomes the only medium to save life.
Although June 14, is a day reserved for blood donation, the insurance industry has also set aside the month of August for the blood donation campaign.
“Blood is the fluid that runs through our body and if we lose excess of it, we may die. But thank God we have blood transfusion which through blood can be donated which then becomes the only medium to save life,” Mr. Ofori stated.
He also pointed out that his research on blood donation states that persons from the ages of 17 to 66 not weighing more than 50 kilos can donate blood when deem that they are healthy. Also, the insurance industry was awarded by the National blood service in 2021 for donating the highest number of blood.
However, the guest speaker of the event, Dr. Emmanuel Srofenyo who is the Director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, noted that a nation with adequate blood supply and blood product will serve as insurance to the sick.
He also stated that recent statistics that has been released shows that Ghana has been able to mobilize about hundred and sixty nine thousand packs of donated blood which is just a little over half of the national requirement and hence, is calling on every citizen of Ghana to donate blood and save lives.
The Chief Executive of the National Blood Service, Dr. Shirley Owusu expressed appreciation at the tremendous initiative by the insurance bodies. She also appealed with citizens to donate blood since two-thirds of all maternal death in Sub Saharan Africa is due to lack of blood.
