MarchMarch Blood Donation Awareness
The vulnerable in society should not be underprivileged. There are so many needless deaths that can be prevented if everyone does his/her bit. Kwaaba Foundation helps the marginalized in society. In the area of health care, our efforts have been heavily centered around Blood Donation initiatives because we believe it is a cause that touches a lot of other causes and lives.
One out of 3 of us will need blood at some point in our lives. Surgeries have had to be postponed due to lack of blood. Every day, children and mothers in childbirth die as a result of acute blood loss. Cancer patients, accident victims, and other patients, need blood transfusion to survive. The need for blood continues to be an issue worldwide and Ghana is no exception. As a country, Ghana has never met its blood requirement which is just 1% of the Ghanaian population (300,000). By giving others the Gift of Life, the impact will go beyond that patient – touching families, loved ones, and society.
The Kwaaba Foundation started off World Blood Donor Month with fliers debunking popular misconceptions about blood donations and The Unsung Heroes from the various regions were recognized on all our socials. For World Blood Day, and the rest of the month, photo booths were set up all over the country, and individuals were encouraged to take fun and exciting photos to spread awareness (about blood donation). World Blood Donor Month ended with a bang with our Virtual Kahoot Trivia Night. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated. Even though the month has ended, please remember that the plight for blood donation has not. Give blood and keep the world-beating.
Obstetric Fistula Operations Aid
Kwaaba Foundation realizes that there are other healthcare issues that need its attention and assists in other areas when the need arises. One of such has been obstetric fistula. Obstetric Fistula is a very debilitating condition which sometimes affects young women in carrying out the normal process of childbearing when labor becomes difficult. In the process, the young woman develops a communicating hole between the bladder and the front passage or the rectum and the front passage. Occasionally, she develops both and also, infections. As a result of this condition, the patient smells of urine or faeces with the result being ostracization by her family.
Unfortunately, facilities for dealing with these cases – such as the general gynecology ward at the Korle-Bu Hospital – are not many. The patients are most often shunned by family members and the society, because of the stench. These fistula patients usually do not know where to get help and even when they do, cannot afford it. The Foundation has funded several operations to rectify this condition.
There are times when certain events occur which demands immediate attention. Thus, though not initially part of the annual plan of the Foundation, it makes provision to assist in dealing with such cases.
