MTN Ghana Foundation congratulates voluntary blood donors as the company joins the world to commemorate World Blood Donor Day.
To draw attention to the role that voluntary blood donations play in saving lives and enhancing solidarity within communities, this year’s World Blood Donor Day is being commemorated under the theme: ‘Donating blood is an act of solidarity: Join the Effort and Save Lives’. World Blood Donor Day is celebrated each year on 14th June to raise awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their life saving gift of blood.
Blood is a critical component in the healthcare delivery system, especially for both planned and emergency medical conditions. Yet blood is not always available in a timely manner; the records always indicate the lack of blood in blood banks across Ghana.
It is against this background that MTN Ghana Foundation has over the years organised its annual blood donation campaign, dubbed: ‘Save a Life’, to support efforts in restocking blood banks across the country, and help create awareness on the need for safe blood. Over 20,000 pints of blood have been collected since the inception of the initiative in 2011.
In addition, the foundation, in 2021, constructed and handed over a blood bank for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, which is reported to have contributed in reducing maternal and infant mortality by 20 percent.
Commenting on the celebration, the Acting Chief Corporate Services Officer of MTN Ghana, Nana Kofi Asare, said: “As we celebrate World Blood Donor Day, I would like to acknowledge the efforts all the individuals who have over the years taken the initiative to voluntarily donate blood with the sole objective of saving lives. We appreciate their life-saving gift of blood. As the world celebrates World Blood Donor Day, I am calling on all eligible blood donors to donate blood at regular intervals to help save lives.”
In recognition of its efforts, the MTN Ghana Foundation was adjudged the highest corporate blood donor in 2013, second highest corporate donor in 2014 and one of the highest corporate donors in 2015.
MTN Foundation
The MTN Ghana Foundation was established in November 2007 as the vehicle to select and implement MTN’s Corporate Social Investments. MTN Ghana Foundation has three areas of focus – Health, Education and Economic Empowerment. From its inception to date, the Foundation has undertaken 158 major projects across the country.
Notable health projects include construction of a Neonatal Care Centre for Tamale Teaching Hospital, refurbishment of the 2nd floor maternity block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, construction of a maternity block for Ejisu Government Hospital, and construction of an Emergency Centre for Atua Government Hospital.
Education projects undertaken include construction of a boys’ dormitory for Akropong School for the Blind, construction of a six-unit classroom block for Kodjonya Millennium School, establishment of 10 MTN ICT Learning Centres in each of Ghana’s then 10 regions, and the institution of an Innovation Hub at KNUST to promote Telecoms Engineering and Research.
Key projects undertaken in Economic Empowerment include: the construction of shea butter processing centres, provision of seed capital and skill training for Women of Tizaa Dini Association of Yendi and the Sung Suma Women Association of Wa.
