The Information Ministry together with its press pool has donated 68 pints of blood to help complement stocks at the National Blood Bank.

This is the second time the Ministry has embarked on such a gesture. 

The event brought together its staff, that of the Information Services Department (ISD) and members of the general public.

Additionally, 138 people were screened for BP, malaria, Body Mass Index (BMI) and HIV.

In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar said the exercise was in response to urgent calls by the Blood Bank to help stock up.

According to her, the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restrictions on movement affected mass donation of blood, hence the shortage.

“I am impressed that my colleagues in the press pool, in addition to the staff of the Ministry of Information, Information Services Department and other volunteers responded to the call of the National Blood Bank and came in their numbers to participate in stocking the Blood Bank.”

The Deputy Minister thus thanked the media personnel, staff and volunteers for supporting such a noble gesture. 

She also called on other Ministries, Department and Agencies to emulate the gesture.

Principal Blood Donor Recruitment Officer of the National Blood Service, Madame Joyce Oppong Adu also underscored the importance of blood donation in saving lives. 

She also urged the public to participate in subsequent blood donation exercises.

Head of Communications of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Kojo Larbi was delighted that his outfit came through to support the exercise to make it a success.

He said the exercise is a laudable one and as such Stanbic Bank is more than happy to partner the Ministry in future exercises of this kind.

The Head of Corporate Affairs of the EXIM Bank Ghana, Richard Anane Osei said the success of the exercise shows how much we can achieve as a collective if we bring our hands on deck. 

He said the EXIM Bank Ghana will continue to lend a helping hand anytime it is called upon to make sure events like this becomes successful.

The cause was supported by Stanbic Bank Ghana, Ayrton Drugs, Ghana EXIM Bank, Ocean Spray, FanMilk Limited, Dano Milk, Cocoa Processing Company (Golden Tree), Coca Cola, Special Ice, Niche Confectionary, Voltic, Frutelli, Tobinco and Kalypo.