Loyalty Insurance Company Limited, in partnership with the National Blood Service (NBS), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the drive for voluntary blood donation heightened in the country.
The agreement between the two institutions will see Loyalty Insurance donating a portion of the premium received by the company, which will be given to the National Blood Service to promote voluntary blood donation activities countrywide, thereby, ensuring constant blood supply.
The insurance company began the drive with a blood donation exercise and a presentation of GH¢10,000 seed money to the Head of the NBS, Dr Justina K. Ansah.
Elias Oppong Ababio, Executive Director of Loyalty Insurance, stated that the company is passionate about having a strong CSR agenda which focuses on consistency, adding that the leadership of the company will ensure the partnership is sustained.
“That is the reason why we have formalised our partnership with the National Blood Service with the signing of a MoU aimed at supporting service on a sustainable basis to save lives,” he said.
“I would, therefore, call on individuals and corporate entities to take an insurance policy with Loyalty Insurance knowing that a portion of the insurance premiums you pay to Loyalty Insurance is in support of the National Blood Service,” he added.
Dr Justina K. Ansah, in her remarks, expressed her profound gratitude to the board, management of staff of Loyalty Insurance Company Limited for their decision to partner with the NBSG to improve the availability of safe blood and blood products.
“This partnership will undoubtedly improve the national blood supply system by complementing government’s efforts to provide safe and adequate blood and blood products for parents who require blood transfusion in both private and public health facilities across the country,” she pointed out.
Dr Ansah added that the present blood supply system relies heavily on family replacement donation, which is not sustainable and does not ensure availability of blood and blood products at the point of need.
“Usually during emergency situation such as child birth, road traffic accidents and disasters, it is important, therefore, that we harness our collective efforts as a country about a paradigm shift from family replacement donation to voluntary donations with a sense of urgency,” she said.
Dr Ansah, therefore, considered the partnership between the two institutions as strategic to the attainment of the national objective of establishing a blood supply system that depends on 100 percent voluntary donations by the year 2020.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri