The National Blood Service (NBS) has, in line with its mission to improve access to safe blood and related services nationwide, donated a Centrifuge Heraeus Cryofuge 8 to the Transfusion Medicine Unit (TMU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in Kumasi.
The equipment is typically used for separation of plasma, red blood cells or platelets for transfusion purposes.
The donation of the state-of-the-art equipment, valued at over GH¢1,000,000 has come to strengthen NBS’ commitment to enhanced healthcare at the hospital towards speedy process and separate blood components, which is a critical aspect of modern transfusion medicine.
The Chief Executive of NBS, Dr. Mrs. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, at the handing over ceremony highlighted the importance of the Centrifuge in ensuring the availability of high-quality blood products for needy patients.
Dr. Mrs. Owusu-Ofori commended the Transfusion Medicine Unit of the hospital for its hard work, making it the best performing among the three Blood Service Centres in the country.
The Chief Executive of KATH, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, expressed profound gratitude to the Service, emphasising that the Centrifuge will enable the unit to handle larger volumes of blood donations more efficiently and thus save countless lives.
He noted the donation has come to save the hospital the huge cost associated with procuring one and revealed the determination of management to put a good maintenance plan for it to enhance its lifespan.
Mr Prince Ernest Asante, Head of Administration NBS, speaking on behalf of the board, stated that after a periodic assessment by the Board at the Central Zonal Blood Center, found it necessary to provide the unit with a new Centrifuge machine, as it was a critical intervention needed.
“We were here with the Board of Blood Service to assess the state of the Central Zonal Blood Centre and interact with the staff”, he said.
Dr. Lesley Osei, head of KATH TMU was elated with the donation, explaining how the Centrifuge machine would help the unit to work effectively by collecting and storing greater amounts of blood.
She called on all Ghanaians to donate blood during the festive season, as a gift to support those in need.
