Donating blood is a simple thing to do but it can make a big difference in the lives of others.
JCI UCC one of the leading organizations in the University Of Cape Coast in collaboration with the University Hospital embarks on a 4 day blood donation project dubbed, “Donate Blood To Save Lives”. The four day event was scheduled from the 28th Sept. to 1st of October, 2011.
The event was proudly sponsored two Senators in JCI Ghana namely Sen. Mannan Waru and Sen. William A. Mensah and some corporate Institutions like Airtel, Coca cola, Eygapa Image and Mildrick Group.
Each JCI member believes that in order to create lasting positive change, we must improve ourselves and the world around us.
In view of this, young, self motivated and enthusiastic members of JCI UCC upon hearing an announcement from the University’s radio station (ATL fm) regarding the University Hospital running short of blood at the blood bank sort out to find a critical and strategic solution to help save lives.
Day 1 of the event begun at the Kwame Nkrumah Hall of the University of Cape Coast with four representatives from the Cape Coast hospital, members of JCI UCC and a member of JCI Accra Royale ensuring the success of the event.
The hospital personnel came along with blood donation materials as well as incentives to motivate prospective donors.
Turn out for the first day blood donation exercise was very encouraging with over forty individuals donating for the worthy cause.
Speaking with the senior blood donor coordinator, Mr. Martin Ampofo, he stated that a prospective donor must weigh not less than 50 kgs, must not engage him/herself in a risky lifestyle and must have a normal blood level. He added that, asthma, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruation, skin infections, alcoholism and hypertension are some of the hindrances of donating.
He also mentioned that an individual would benefit immensely when he/she donates so that they would know their blood group, receive free health check and receive a donor certificate which entitles him and his family to receive blood in time of need.
He added that an individual is required to donate a minimum of 450 ml of blood which is stored in a blood bank fridge with temperature of +2 to +8 degrees.
The serve life of blood takes 35 days before its discarded. However, Mr. Ampofo emphasized that they barely discard blood. Rather, when they do not need it they in turn give out to other hospitals for usage.
Seated at the Junior Common Room (JCR), I watched with interest as personnel from the hospital attended to individuals with much patience, beaming .with smiles.
It is advised that a prospective donor must take a lot of fluids prior to the donation. The personnel and volunteers first of all signed prospective donors in and went through basic eligibility checks and donation info with them.
Prospective donors were then weighed and their blood level checked. Once they are qualified, they were made to sit and their arm with stretched and alcohol will be used to wipe where the sterile needle will be inserted. At first you will feel a quick pinch but over a few seconds you feel okay. The actual donation of blood takes between 8-10 minutes per a donor.
After donation, donors were given donors certificates and incentives. They were again advised to continue drinking water throughout the day of their donation and desist from exerting themselves with heavy lifting or exercise for the rest of the day.
Due to the high patronage of hall residents than expected, personnel ran out of incentives and the exercise came to an on that first day.
That evening, the senior donor coordinator and President of the local organization, Patrick Adjei Nketia visited Adehye and Valco Halls respectively to sensitize hall residents before the donation the next day.
On the 29th September, the hospital personnel’s were beefed up by their counterparts from another hospital in the district since they were to serve two different halls. They divided themselves into two teams and worked in the two halls whist they were assisted by JCI UCC members.
Prospective donors in various halls trooped into the JCRC upon hearing that the medical team was around.
JCI UCC did tremendously well as they directed prospective donors through the checks, packaged incentives and served donors after they have finished donating.
As Valco Hall was recording over 25 donors, 2 hours into the exercise, Adehye Hall, which is a female hall was recording less than 10 donors because of their menstruation many ladies did not qualify to donate.
In the evening, we recorded over 30 donors in Valco and over 20 donors in Adehye Hall.
On the 30th September, we had a little challenge with one of the halls we intended to visit due to a ban that hall was serving. However, we focused on the other hall called Atlantic Hall.
All necessary arrangements were done by JCI UCC members and when the hospital personnel’s arrived at Atlantic hall.
JCI UCC members conveyed all the materials from the car into JCRC were the exercise was to take place.
The Hall Master came into the JCRC and saw the worthy cause the members of JCI UCC had embarked and acknowledged us that it was a good job done. He added that, he had heard of the shortage of blood in the blood bank so he didn’t hesitate to approve our letter of request when it got to his desk.
JCI UCC members were elated by the words of the headmaster and believed they had indeed championed a noble cause.
The media also came to interview the President about the reason and importance of this project and what he would like tell other youth organizations.
The President said, “they (JCI UCC) are active citizens and they find solutions to the problems in their communities and they believe that service to humanity is the work of life”.
In the evening, the hospital personnel’s recorded over 30 donors and encouraged JCI members that they had done a good job.
On the 1st October and which marked the last day of the project happened in Oguaa hall the first ever built hall in the University Cape Coast, in spite of the fact it was scheduled to have happened in Amamoma, a community within the University.
After all arrangements had been made, we called to confirm our coming and unfortunately, we were told by the chief that, they will be having a big funeral on the said date of the project and it was taking place on our said venue.
Oguaa hall also responded massively to the call to “donate blood to save lives” and it a remarkable project organized by the members of JCI UCC.
After the entire program, we recorded 152 units of blood donated.
The hospital personnel’s acknowledged JCI UCC members for such a remarkable sense of active citizenship and edged them to continue their good work to save lives and in making our world a better place to live.
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