Some blood donors in action while officials of MTN Foundation and the hospital look on
THE CAPE Coast Teaching Hospital says it has recorded a decline in maternal and infant mortality cases since the MTN Ghana Foundation handed over a blood bank to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit of the hospital in 2021.
Speaking to a delegation from MTN who visited the facility recently to access its impact, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr. Stephen Laryea, said “We are grateful to the foundation for coming to our aid with this blood bank. Since the provision of facility in 2021, maternal mortality, resulting from blood issues has reduced by about twenty percent (20%). Hemorrhage, which was the highest cause of maternal mortality, has reduced.”
On his part, Senior Manager for South West Business District of MTN Ghana, Prince Owusu-Nyarko, said “We are happy the facility is helping improve health care delivery at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The establishment of this facility for the hospital and the people of Cape Coast is a proof of the foundation’s commitment to brighten lives and to mobilise blood to save lives.”
He encouraged the hospital authorities to continue to take good care of the facility for posterity. The facility has a reception area, an office for staff, a donor lounge, a bleeding room, a laboratory and a fridge room. It has a storeroom, a washroom, and locally fabricated donation couches. The project was constructed at total cost of GH¢300,000 and handed over to the management of the hospital in June 2021.
The MTN Ghana Foundation, has over the years, remained committed to mobilising blood to restock the National Blood Services and blood banks in major hospitals across the country through its “Save a Life” blood donation exercise.
To date, over 20,000 units of blood have been collected since the inception of the initiative in 2011. The blood donation exercise, which was put on hold temporarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to resume.
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 by the National Blood Services.
The MTN Ghana Foundation has initiated and completed over 53 health projects since its inception.