The Commissioner of Insurance, Dr. Justice Yaw Ofori has led a group of about 150 Chief Executive Officers in the insurance industry to launch a blood donation exercise.

Dr. Ofori revealed that the blood donation exercise follows an appeal by the National Blood Service to the National Insurance Commission (NIC) to help stock the blood bank.

“The blood bank approached us that they needed some blood because they were running out of stock, so we decided to lead a campaign for the insurance industry to help stock it.

“What I am doing today will benefit someone, but if I should also need blood someday, someone’s own will also help me and that is why everyone must get involved.”
Dr. Justice Yaw Ofori

Meanwhile, the blood donation exercise, which is expected to be done annually, is to help stock the National Blood Service (NBS), he disclosed.

Dr Ofori further stated that the blood donation by players in the Insurance industry would be done across the country and it is expected to end on October 14, 2021, under the hashtag “Donate blood, save a life; if you, do it for someone, you do it for yourself”.

He further stated that without human lives, there would be no insurance, as businesses depended on lives for their insurance business.

Dr Ofori also disclosed that the exercise would be replicated in all branches of the NIC across the country.

Meanwhile, among the people who donated blood at the launch were staff of the NIC, Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana, Ghana Insurers Association, Insurers Brokers of Ghana, and Ghana Insurance College, among others.

The National Blood Services

Blood and blood products save lives and are a part of the WHO Essential Medicines List. Access to safe and quality-assured blood and blood products is essential for health systems strengthening and it is a global concern.

The Minister of Health (MoH) is ultimately responsible for the safety and adequacy of the supply of blood and blood products in Ghana.

Furthermore, the National Blood Service is a health agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.

Also, the mandate of the National Blood Service, Ghana, is to ensure an effective and coordinated national approach to the provision of safe, adequate and efficacious, blood and blood products, making them timely, accessible, and affordable to all patients requiring blood transfusion therapy in both public and private health care institutions in the country.

Furthermore, the First Lady of Ghana Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo in her June Statement last year disclosed that “It is in these times of crisis, that we must come together to save lives.

“So today I am supporting the call for all healthy Ghanaian citizens, to be Champions of Change. Please give blood and save lives.”
Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo

Also, Dr. Dillys John Teye, Director of the Southern Zonal Area of the National Blood Services, commended the National Insurance Commission and urged people to emulate the gesture and donate blood voluntarily, saying, “there is always blood shortages at the blood bank.”