I’m not a fan of running—it makes me itchy.
Back in medical school, I used to jog occasionally, but I was more active then and didn’t experience the same itchiness. Plus, I had a little extra motivation: my jogging partner was a girl I liked (hormones have always been undefeated).
These days, I still stay active, but I stick to walks and the gym. Running? Not my thing.
And yet, there I was at 2 a.m., sprinting down a dimly lit hospital hallway, racing toward the blood bank.
In a perfect world, I’d get there, make my request, and quickly receive the blood I needed to help my patient.
But this isn’t a perfect world
Where I live, visiting the blood bank often feels like stepping into a high-stakes negotiation. Either you master the art of persuasion, or you have a friend there you can beg for help.
I can’t remember the last time I requested blood and heard something simple like: “Sure, no problem. We just need to do the crossmatching, and then you can come for it.”
Instead, the typical responses sound like this:
“Umm… we don’t have any right now.”
“Have the patient’s relatives donated blood?”
“Check back later.”
And that’s when your negotiating skills are put to the test. You beg, plead, push—and, eventually, you might get what you need.
I’m not sharing this to criticize blood bank services here. On the contrary, I deeply sympathize with them. The truth is, they rarely have enough blood to meet demand.
For a long time, I thought this was just a Ghanaian problem. But after doing some research, I realized it’s a global issue.
For instance, in the United States, only about 3% of the population donates blood, despite 38% being eligible to do so.
The same NorthWestern article I got that stat from links the low numbers to
- Busy travel seasons
- Seasonal viral illnesses in the community
- Climate-driven disasters like hurricanes
- Younger donors giving blood less often
- A growing remote workforce with fewer workplace blood drives and
- Fewer school blood donation programs
Some of these challenges apply to Ghana, but I firmly believe the primary barriers here are rooted in cultural and traditional beliefs, coupled with a widespread lack of awareness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that at least 1% of a nation’s population donate blood annually to maintain a sufficient and steady supply.
In 2022, Ghana recorded 179,765 blood donations. While that number might sound impressive at first glance, Ghana’s population that year was 33.48 million.
This means only 0.5% of the population donated blood—half the minimum recommended by the WHO.
Even more concerning, the same WHO report revealed that only 45,463 of these donations were voluntary.
The report didn’t elaborate on the distinction between voluntary and involuntary donations, but in my experience, “involuntary” donations are often those made after public appeals—frequently incentivized—to support a specific patient in urgent need.
So, in 2022, just 45,463 individuals voluntarily walked into a blood donation facility to give blood for a stranger. That’s only 0.1% of the population.
It’s no surprise, then, that doctors often find themselves pleading and negotiating at the blood bank to secure what they need for their patients.
So what can we do?
- Time: It’s going to take time. Habits (which is what we are trying to form) take time. Understanding this will avoid frustration.
- Understanding: A person’s blood is a part of their body. As important as blood donation is, we should not compel a person under duress to give. Patient discourse is what is needed.
- Education: These are the things you can tell people to encourage them to give blood: Blood transfusions are safe, free, and simple. They also double as a free mini-health check. Every blood donation can save up to 3 lives. The body replenishes the donated blood volume in 24 hours. The reds taken are replaced in a few weeks. There is zero risk of transmission of disease during blood donation.
- Ingenuity: It is more effective to talk to groups than individuals. Encourage your workplace, schools, and places of worship to establish blood donation drives.
I personally plan to attempt to establish regular blood donation drives in my place of worship and also in my workplace.
Together we can make a difference. Together we can save lives. Give blood.
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