“Am I qualified to donate too? I am 55 years ooo!” These were the curious inquisitions of a very willing and excited pedestrian who chanced on the Rotary/MamaYe Blood donation exercise at the Obra Spot near Nkrumah Circle. His eagerness to donate blood at his age was encouraging to younger bystanders who felt apprehensive due to some of the myths about blood donation in Ghana.
“Am I qualified to donate too? I am 55 years ooo!” These were the curious inquisitions of a very willing and excited pedestrian who chanced on the Rotary/MamaYe Blood donation exercise at the Obra Spot near Nkrumah Circle. His eagerness to donate blood at his age was encouraging to younger bystanders who felt apprehensive due to some of the myths about blood donation in Ghana. On this day, however, Mr. Stephen Markwei was in luck. Teams from four chapters of the Rotary Club in Accra, partnered by MamaYe Ghana, were on hand to allay his fears.“I am truly excited that you have decided to do this because I have never donated blood before. I have actually prevented my daughters from donating blood because of all the stories I have heard about it,” Mr Markwei said.A Rastafarian sporting neatly wrapped dreadlocks, Mr. Markwei is a vegetable farmer and, due to his healthy lifestyle, has never suffered any major health problems. Admitting to having heard superstitious stories, such as “if I donate blood I can never be strong again”, or “my siblings will suddenly fall sick and die from bleeding”, Mr Markwei said he had felt hindered from donating blood.But a lengthy chat with an executive member of the Rotary Club - Ridge Chapter led to Mr Markwei mustering up the courage to donate a pint of his blood.It was only seven minutes or so later that Mr Markwei emerged from the donation bed, smiling from ear to ear. As he took his seat by another donor and was handed a cup of chocolate drink and a meat pie, he said: “I think people must change their perspectives ooo. I feel ok.”Turning to an official of the blood bank, he asked: “So how often can I donate?” To which David, a senior official at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) replied: “Three times a year, my brother. You can do it once every four months and you will be perfectly fine.”Thanks to voluntary blood donors like Mr. Markwei, the Obra Spot came alive as Rotarians and MamaYe Campaigners convinced passersby to donate a pint to save lives. While some chuckled and waltzed passed the team, others solemnly asked about the processes and took their seats under the sunshade.All in all, the event was successful, with three teams from the NBTS working extra hard and fast to ensure that the blood bank was stocked.Brimming with pleasure, the President of the Rotary Club – Accra Ridge Chapter, Frank Afari Ankamah, said blood donation exercises are key to the social responsibility activities of the Club, adding: “we are glad to have MamaYe partnering us to do this. It is high time we all turn our focus on mothers and babies if we are going to achieve the MDG 4 and 5.”“If this is the way to go, we as Rotary Club Accra Ridge Chapter are definitely all in,” he concluded.By the time the sun came down on the five-hour exercise, 87 pints of blood had been donated to save mothers and babies in Ghana.What are you doing to save lives? Step up and act NOW!