Officials of the National Blood Service, Ghana have paid a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam to seek his blessings in the effort to spread the blood donation message amongst Muslim communities.

Dr Justina K. Ansah, the Executive Director of the National Blood Service, Ghana (NBSG), who led the entourage, said the perennial shortage of blood in the country has dire consequences and there is the need for collective responsibility to ensure that the blood bank is stocked at all times.

She said the Service is mandated to ensure safe and adequate blood for patients, who require blood transfusion as part of their clinical management.

To be able to achieve this, there was the need to engage influential people, the Muslim communities just as other faiths and corporate organisations to ensure that people donate to have enough and safe blood at all times, she said.

“If we can get one per cent of the population donating blood voluntarily then we can meet our minimum rate,” she said.

Dr Ansah urged Ghanaians to donate blood voluntarily and regularly irrespective of their religion to be able to do away with the family replacement system which is not helping the country achieve its target.

Dr Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, commended the efforts of the executives, adding that, blood is a necessity and for that matter should always be readily available in hospitals for medical care.

The Chief Imam on his part said Islam teaches the act of giving and assured that he would help create the needed awareness among Muslims as well as encourage them to donate blood to save lives.

He would also assign people from his office to work with the NBSG to be able to hold sessions to get more Muslims to donate to stock the blood bank.