Ghana: MTN Foundation spearheads nationwide blood donation campaign

MTN Ghana’s 2024 Save-a-Life campaign gathered over 5909 units of blood. The annual initiative aims to address shortages at blood banks in Ghana, with thousands participating at designated centers across all 16 regions of the country.

Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, in her remarks at the opening ceremony in Accra said, “We have all heard, at least in the media, some of the harrowing stories of unfortunate incidents that could easily have been avoided if blood was within easy reach. That is why, we, at the MTN Ghana Foundation together with MTN Employees have taken it upon ourselves to organize this life saving event every Valentine’s Day since 2011 not only to donate blood but also to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donations and show our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community”.

Dr. Steve Paintsil, Medical Officer, National Blood Service, Korle Bu congratulated MTN for the blood donation drive. He said, “the National Blood Service (NBS) sincerely congratulates the MTN Ghana Foundation for organizing yet another nationwide blood donation drive to help stock the nation’s blood banks. In most emergency cases, blood must be readily available for transfusion to avert untimely deaths. It is in light of the above, that the National Blood Bank wishes MTN well”.

Voluntary blood donations contribute only 28.6% to the national blood supply, impacting maternal health significantly. The shortage adversely affects healthcare delivery. MTN’s Save-a-Life campaign offers crucial support to the National Blood Bank, addressing some of the challenges it encounters.

MTN Ghana’s Save-a-Life campaign has now collected over 31,909 units of blood following this year’s successful blood donation exercise.

MTN extends gratitude to its employee volunteers, donors, partner hospitals, schools, and bleeding centers across the country.