During the moments of childbirth, emergencies can strike without warning. For many women in Ghana, the joy of bringing life into the world can quickly turn into a desperate fight to survive simply because a unit of safe blood is not available.
This year’s World Blood Donor Day, under the theme “Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives,” is a clarion call to confront the harsh inequalities that threaten maternal and newborn survival.
ARHR acknowledges firsthand how the absence of safe blood affects the most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, new mothers, and babies born too soon or too sick. Access to blood is a lifeline and a fundamental human right.
Blood, A Silent Hero in Maternal Health
Women walk into labour wards with the hope of safe deliveries. Yet, postpartum haemorrhage remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in Ghana. According to the Ghana Health Service, maternal mortality continues to claim hundreds of lives each year, many of which could be prevented with the availability of safe and sufficient blood.
A single pint of donated blood can make the difference between life and death for a woman experiencing obstetric complications. But in underserved regions and during emergencies, blood banks often run dry, and lives are lost. These are not just statistics; they are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.
The Newborn Connection: Hope Starts Early
It is not only mothers who are at risk. Newborns with health conditions often require urgent blood transfusions. In the first critical hours of life, having access to safe blood could be the difference between a healthy start and a tragic end.
Yet the gaps in Ghana’s blood donation culture and infrastructure disproportionately affect rural and low-income communities where maternal and newborn outcomes are already poorest.
What Needs to Change?
ARHR believes that safeguarding maternal and newborn health must be part of our national conversation on blood donation. It starts with raising awareness and shifting attitudes:
- More inclusive messaging that highlights the unique needs of women and newborns.
- Improved community-based education on the importance of voluntary blood donation, especially among the youth.
- Strengthened healthcare systems to ensure proper blood storage, screening, and distribution, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
But perhaps most importantly, it takes a shared sense of responsibility. The theme reminds us to come together as individuals, civil society, policymakers, and healthcare providers to make safe blood a basic guarantee for all.
Every Drop Counts
As we mark World Blood Donor Day 2025, ARHR calls on every eligible Ghanaian to become a regular blood donor. Your donation is a gesture of solidarity, of community, and of hope.
Let us build a future where no woman loses her life while giving life, and no newborn is denied a fighting chance because blood was not available.
Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives!
