The National Blood Service (NBS) has strengthened its commitment to advancing healthcare in Ghana with the donation of a Centrifuge Heraeus Cryofuge 8 to the Transfusion Medicine Unit (TMU) of the Komfo AnokyeTeaching Hospital (KATH).
The state-of-the-art equipment, valued at over One Million Ghana Cedis (¢1,000,000.00), will significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to speedily process and separate blood components which is a critical aspect of modern transfusion medicine.
Among others, the equipment is typically used for separation of plasma, red blood cells, or platelets for transfusion purposes.
At a short handing over ceremony, the Chief Executive of the NBS, Dr. Mrs. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, highlighted the importance of the centrifuge in ensuring the availability of high-quality blood products for needy patients. She noted that the donation aligns with the mission of the service which was to improve access to safe blood and related services nationwide.
Dr. Mrs. Owusu-Ofori commended the Transfusion Medicine Unit of the hospital for its hard work making it the best performing among the three Blood Service Centres in the country.
The Chief Executive of the hospital, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, expressed profound gratitude to the service, emphasizing that the centrifuge will enable the unit to handle larger volumes of blood donations more efficiently, thereby saving countless lives. He said the donation has also saved the hospital the huge cost associated with procuring one and pledged the determination of management to put a good maintenance plan for it to enhance its lifespan.
Mr. Prince Ernest Asante, Head of Administration NBS, speaking on behalf of the board, stated that after a periodic assessment by the board at the central zonal blood center, found it necessary to provide the unit with a new centrifuge machine as it was a critical intervention needed.
“We were here with the board of blood Service to assess the state of the Central Zonal blood Centre, and interact with the staff. A plea from Dr. Lesley was made to provide the center with a new Centrifuge machine to replace the old faulty one and today we are here to deliver as promised”. He remarked.
Dr. Lesley Osei, head of TMU was elated with the donation explaining how the centrifuge machine will help the unit to work effectively by collecting and storing greater amounts of blood.
Dr. Lesley called on all Ghanaians to donate blood during the festive season as a gift to support those in need.
“I wish to call on all Ghanaians as part of their Christmas gifts to donate blood to help save the lives of those in need of blood and for potential accident victims,” she stated.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
