The Deputy Chief Blood Recruiter at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Mr Francis Blay-Cudjoe, says the medical facility needs 20,000 units of blood to ensure efficient service delivery to patients during emergencies.

He said the hospital, which is the only referral health facility, supplies blood to all districts and polyclinics in the Western Region, as well as private health facilities therefore it must always have sufficient blood stock to deal with any eventualities.

He indicated that currently, it has between 2,000 and 3,000 units of blood at the blood bank, which is far below the blood requirements of the hospital and appealed to corporate institutions, churches and individuals to voluntarily support blood donation exercises.

Mr Blay-Cudjoe made the appeal during a blood donation exercise organised by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Takoradi on Thursday.

He indicated that blood received from donors is used to support accidents victims, expectant mothers, people with urine retention problems, anaemia patients, among others.

He said anyone who voluntarily donates blood is given certificates which would enable him or her relative to receive blood free of charge, when urgently needed.

“Blood donors also enjoy certain benefits such as being screened for hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted infections, hypertension and anaemia as well as knowing their blood type for easy prescription of medicines and treatment of certain ailments,” he said.

He added that blood donors would also enjoy good health since it offers them the opportunity to get rid of old blood in their system and to enable fresh ones to be produced, which boosts blood circulation to and from the heart.

The Takoradi Ghana Stake President of the Church, Brother Peter Tetteh Dzikpe, said in view of many emergencies that require blood transfusion, the church has taken upon its to organise annual blood donation exercises to support the Regional Hospital on the first day of every January and July of every year.

He said as followers of Jesus Christ it behoves them to provide humanitarian services to the society, to make the world a better place to live in.