Ho, Nov. 30, GNA - The Volta Regional Hospital is to establish two zonal blood transfusion centres to forestall the constant shortage of blood in the hospitals blood bank.

The short to medium term measure would have the northern zone centred at Hohoe and the southern at Ho strategically to provide adequate and safe blood to all clients.

Dr. Crosby Oppong-Yeboah, Acting Medical Superintendent of the Regional Hospital said this in a speech read for him at the National Blood Donor's Awards Day in Ho.

The ceremony, which also marked the launch of 2006 Blood Donation Campaign, was sponsored by Rotary Club of Accra and attracted students from second cycle institutions in Ho.

He stated that with the upsurge of HIV/AIDS, the present system of relying virtually on replacement blood donations was suicidal. Dr Oppong-Yeboah said the time was therefore, due for a new system aiming at a 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation. "What we need now is community-based blood donors with a central screening, processing, storage and distribution system efficiently run by well trained and dedicated professionals, backed by appropriate modern structures, logistics and more importantly commitment and support by all stakeholders", he said.

He said the zonal blood transfusion centres would be manned by well-trained and dedicated personnel in a friendly and caring atmosphere.

Dr Oppong-Yeboah said the centres would provide adequate, safe, accessible and affordable blood and blood products from altruistic blood donors to clients requiring such therapy.

Madam Bertha Afenya, Former Nursing Manager of the Hospital, called on the youths to form "youth donors club" in schools and in churches to sensitise authorities to provide more incentives for blood donors. Madam Afenya said it was important for everybody to adopt positive attitude towards voluntary blood donation since one does not know when he or she might need blood.

She said with that attitude, the country could achieve its 250-unit target.

Madam Afenya congratulated the award winners and urged them to continue their good works.

In all, Reverend Sister Margaret Akordor, a tutor at Ola Secondary School, Ho, won the first prize and took home a standing fan for donating blood 14 times.

Mr Stephen Adzotor, a tutor at New Age Secretarial School in Ho, took home a four-band radio for the second prize having donated for 13 times.

The third prize went to Mrs Gertrude Azumah Gudugbe, a nurse at the Regional Hospital, who also took home a radio for donating 12 times.