| When you give blood you give another birthday another anniversary another day at the beach another night under the stars another talk with a friend another laugh another hug another chance The world Health organization has estimated that every second of everyday, someone in the world needs blood transfusion to survive. Every day, 800 women die worldwide from complications related to bleeding during pregnancy and child-birth. The WHO has also indicated that voluntary blood donation in developing countries is so limited that most patients in need of blood transfusion have had to rely on family members or buying the blood to survive. Many of us have witnessed and heard horrid stories of men, women and children who have lost their lives due to shortage of blood in the hospitals they were admitted. This is why there is the need for Ghanaians who are at least 17 years of age to 60 years, not pregnant and with the required blood levels to donate blood at most thrice a year in order for lives to be saved in the country. Donating blood has no side effects but rather some surprising health benefits. These include · A reduction in ones risk of developing heart diseases and cholesterol · Free medical checks prior to the donation. · Blood donors live longer lives as compared to non-blood donors · Blood donation helps in the production of new blood cells However, some Ghanaians have some misconceptions about blood donation. Below is a table with some of these myths with their truth. MYTH Blood collected from donors are used for rituals. TRUTH Blood donations are done by health professionals who safely store up the blood in a blood bank and give them out upon request from certified health facilities. MYTH During mass blood donations, one is likely to pick up an infection from an infected needle used on someone. TRUTH Every bag that the blood is collected in, comes with its needle and as a result, there is no way a single needle can be used for more than one person. MYTH Sins or bad character can be transferred from one person to another through blood transfusion and as a result some shun blood donations. TRUTH It has been realized by the National Blood Centre that at the point of dire need of blood most of these staunch religious beliefs were shoved aside and the patients and caregivers opted for the blood transfusion. This has resulted in some of these people donating blood. June 14, has been marked the World Blood donors day by the WHO and as a result, the Ghana Blood service will hold an all-day mass blood donation exercise at the headquarters of Ecobank Ghana limited. Join Health Essentials support this worthy cause by joining us on that day to donate blood to save the precious lives of Ghanaians. Join the team of super heroes that save lives. Source: The National Blood Service; The American Red Cross Compiled by Augustina Amarh. |
