Reports from the World Health Assembly (WHA) indicates that 26 per cent of maternal deaths in sub-Sahara Africa including Ghana were due to lack of quality and unsafe blood.

The report mentioned non-affordability of blood, lack of blood donors, unwillingness of relatives to donate, inadequate supplies and transport as some of the reasons contributing to the deaths.

The report called for more blood donations, better financing mechanisms and more efficient management systems to curb the situation.

Mr Hudu Mogtari, the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority disclosed this in Accra at a stakeholders meeting on blood regulation in the country, organized by the FDA in partnership with the National Blood Service.

The forum brought together experts in the health sector to discuss licensure requirements for blood facilities and the regulatory requirements for biological products.

He said the WHA resolution adopted in 2010, recognised the need for member states to strengthen blood establishments, put in measures to upgrade the quality and safety of plasma and the implementation of blood products regulations.

Mr Mogtari said the resolutions are critical because they help member states to institute measures to protect public health and safety and that the Authority was committed to assisting in ensuring that blood products were safe and affordable for transfusion, devoid of any unforeseen deaths.

Dr Edwin Nkansah, the Head of Biological Products Unit at FDA said the Authority was responsible for setting and enforcing standards within the national blood system to meet international requirements.

Dr Nkansah said the Authority had signed a Memoranda of Understanding with the National Blood Service, Ghana, to develop regulatory guidelines along the entire transfusion chain.

“The regulation is necessary to protect the lives and recipients whose health and safety need to be protected and ensure that facilities are put in place to respond to emerging blood safety issues” he added.