The National Blood Service (NBS) Ghana has handed over 1,000 pieces of branded children's clothing to the Child Health Department of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The donation is part of activities marking this year's World Blood Donor Day.
The items, supported by the Global Blood Fund, are meant to provide comfort for children receiving treatment at the facility. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr Shirley Phyllis Ohenewa Owusu-Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, said the gesture forms part of the Service's corporate social responsibility efforts.
"We're here from the National Blood Service to the Child Health Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as part of our 2026 World Blood Donor Day celebration," she said. Dr Owusu-Ofori noted that while the service's core mandate is to ensure a regular supply of safe blood, it also seeks to support patients in ways that contribute to their comfort and recovery.
"The Blood Service is delighted to present 1,000 pieces of branded clothing sized for children. These children are sick and require clinical care, but they'll also be comfortable with the warmth of the clothing we've presented," she stated.
She explained that the items were part of supplies received from the Global Blood Fund and distributed to healthcare institutions to support patient care. "We're here not just to show an act of generosity by giving blood all the time, but also to ensure that these gifts are shared as part of our corporate social responsibility," she added.
Touching on this year's World Blood Donor Day celebrations, Dr Owusu-Ofori described the nationwide activities as successful and impactful. "The theme called us to action to remind us that in each of us lies the capacity to be able to save lives," she said. She stressed the need to appreciate voluntary blood donors, saying recognition encourages them to continue supporting the national blood supply.
"It's just a reminder to all of us that donors who commit to give blood without compulsion ought to be appreciated so that they continue to do what they do," she noted.
According to her, World Blood Donor Day activities in Ghana have expanded beyond a single-day event into a month-long programme aimed at honouring donors and promoting awareness about voluntary blood donation. "It's not a one-day activity. It's running throughout the whole month of June and even beyond as we continue to say thank you to our cherished donors," she said.
The National Blood Service, established to coordinate blood transfusion services in Ghana, has been working to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply. The Global Blood Fund, an international non-profit, supports blood services in developing countries with equipment, training, and supplies.
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana's premier health facility, sees thousands of child patients annually at its Child Health Department. The branded clothing, featuring the NBS logo, will be distributed to children on admission.
World Blood Donor Day, observed every June 14, was instituted by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and to thank voluntary donors. This year's theme focused on the role of every individual in saving lives through blood donation.