Dr. Geoffrey R. K. Nyamuame, Medical Superintendent of the Volta Regional Hospital on Monday said: "In our part of the world, between five to ten (5-10) per cent of HIV infections were transmitted through transfusion of contaminated blood."
He said "many more recipients of blood are infected by Hepatitis B and C viruses, Syphilis and other infectious agents such as chagas".
Dr. Nyamuame said this in a welcome address at the 2009 World Blood Donor Day celebration in Ho.
It was under the theme; "one hundred per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, with special focus on the youth".
He said the problem could be addressed through the formation of voluntary blood donor clubs, as blood from such donors were identified as safe, because they were motivated solely by altruism and had no reason to conceal their lifestyles or medical conditions.
Dr. Nyamuame said voluntary blood donation should be the ultimate humanitarian act, an altruistic gift and should never be a marketable commodity.
He said apart from the Volta Regional Hospital, other hospitals in the region depended solely on a 100 per cent family replacement donation for transfusion; a situation he said was not pleasant.
Mr. Vincent Fekpe, Volta Regional Blood Organizer appealed to churches and other voluntary organizations to put blood donation on their agenda.
He also appealed to philanthropists to donate either in kind or cash to his outfit to enable them motivate voluntary blood donors.
Mr. Michael Ayittey Siti of Ho, who had donated blood 26 times, was presented with a radio recorder and a certificate.
Mr. Emmanuel Patu also of Ho and Mr. Harrison Asiamasco of Have rpt Have who donated blood 20 and 19 times respectively, were also presented with a radio recorder and standing fan respectively and certificates.
Seventy-seven students from OLA Senior High School (SHS) donated blood to the Volta Regional Hospital as part of the celebration.
A quiz competition which was organized as part of the day was won by OLA SHS.