The Koforidua Technical University has organised a blood donation exercise to create awareness ahead of this year’s International Blood Donation Day which comes off on June 14th.
The exercise which is the second in recent times organized by the management of the institution is in fulfilment of the university’s corporate social responsibility.
Hundreds of students including first-time blood donors thronged the central classroom block, the venue for the exercise, to voluntarily donate their blood.
In an interview with Citi News, Victoria Ama Kuusangyele, Public Relations Officer for the Koforidua Technical University expressed satisfaction about the patronage.
She called on lecturers at the university and other lecturers in different institutions to take some time during lecture hours to educate students on the importance of blood donations.
“I must say I have been impressed with the turn out of the donors. The students who are here in their numbers have really surprised us because we just sent messages on their various class group WhatsApp platforms to invite them and they are here in their numbers. This is the second blood donation exercises management has organised in recent times.”
“I believe as educators we can help improve the spirit of voluntarism by ensuring that lecturers take some small time during lecture hours to talk to students about the essence and importance of blood donation.”
Takyi Richard a third-year computer science student who shared his experience after donating his 10tg blood called on other students to voluntarily do same.
“Sometimes I hear the news in the airwaves saying people are dead because of a shortage of blood and that got me wondering what I can do within my power to make a meaningful contribution to save lives. So since then. I always try my possible best to donate blood.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Mrs Smile Dzisi indicated that the exercise was a dress rehearsal for the bigger blood donation exercises which the institution will organise during the celebration of this year’s International Blood Donation Day.