The Western Regional Health Directorate has called on corporate bodies and all well-meaning Ghanaians to donate blood to the regional blood bank.
The appeal was made by the acting Regional Director of the Health Services, Dr Kwaku Anin Karikari, during the Annual Performance Review meeting of the Health Service in Takoradi.
He said the regional blood bank was expecting 1,500 pounds of blood last year, but only received 240, which was far below expectations and based on this health facilities in the region encountered difficulties in handling emergencies cases that required blood transfusion hence the urgent appeal.
The Regional Health Director said the Region experienced an increase in infant and maternal mortality last year and urged all district health directorates to intensify their efforts to help reverse the sad trend.
He said the Region recorded 2.2 percent still births and advised expectant mothers to take their antenatal seriously and report early to health facilities during labour to save their babies.
Dr Karikari said malaria continues to be the leading cause of deaths while cholera had become an endemic situation in the Region with 466 cases and five deaths last year.
He said poor sanitation was the major cause of cholera and entreated the citizenry to ensure proper hygiene in their entire surroundings.