The St Kizito Catholic Church, Nima, on Sunday organised a blood donation exercise to stock up blood banks in the country.

The Church also brought a team from the National Health Insurance Authority to register and renew the health insurance card of members.

A medical team from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Blood Bank co-ordinated the exercise of which more than 70 pints of blood were donated.

Reverend Father Ernest Dugah, the Parish Priest of the Church, said the exercise was part of activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the Church and to support the blood banks to help those in need of blood.

He said blood was life and it was imperative for the church to undertake the exercise to help save the lives of people who needed blood to survive.

Fr Dugah encouraged Ghanaians to donate blood to save patients in times of emergency.

He stated that he was overwhelmed by the number of people from all ages who paid heed to the Church’s call and donated blood to save lives and support the sick to have good health.

Fr Dugah said as part of activities to mark the anniversary, the Church would organize a programme dubbed “Night in St Kizito Village” on May 31, to bring together members who have relocated to share experiences on how they met their partners.

He said the anniversary would be climaxed with the hosting of Most Reverend John Bonaventure Kwofie, the newly installed Metropolitan Arch-bishop of Accra on June 1 and a thanksgiving mass on June 2, with confirmation of candidates, award of distinguished parishners and a durbar of tribal groups.

Mr Gambo Idris Wanfabi, the Deputy Chief Blood Donor Recruitment Officer, National Blood Service, commended the Church for organizing the exercise.

He said the blood bank needed more blood to save lives and appealed to Ghanaians to donate blood to help people in critical conditions.