By The UK-based Medicare Foundation launched its first blood drive and health fair in Ghana to increase awareness about sickle cell disease and promote blood donation. “We are here to promote good health and well-being,” said Nana Hagen Cherry, CEO of Medicare Foundation.
“Sickle cell is a genetic condition that requires regular blood transfusions for many patients. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions around the disease, with some people even believing it’s contagious. Part of our mission is to change that.”
Cherry, a former military nurse, highlighted her personal commitment to the cause: “I’ve lost friends to sickle cell, and I’ve seen firsthand the difference blood donations make.”
With support from Ghana’s National Blood Service, Cold Unit, and National Clinical Genetics, the event featured blood donation stations and educational sessions to dispel myths and encourage donations. “Our goal is to encourage blood donation as an act of giving—just as meaningful as any other form of charity,” she added.
The event also emphasized fitness as part of chronic health management, aiming to inspire more people to support sickle cell patients in Ghana and beyond.
On the other hand, the Visionary Norman Foundation sees its partnership in recent health initiatives as a vital contribution to society. At a health fair and blood drive event, Abraham Norman Nortey, Founder of the foundation, shared the motivation behind their involvement. “The reason for us partnering for this particular program is to ensure that we also contribute our quota to society,” Nortey said.
The foundation has been active in areas like health education and scholarships, but this event, he explained, is an opportunity to support Ghana’s healthcare system directly. “This is one of them in terms of health, contributing to the development of our country,” he added. “Sickle cell is something that is not always pronounced or talked about, so we’re here to make sure the public can hear about it.”
By partnering in the program, the Visionary Norman Foundation aims to raise awareness and encourage support for sickle cell patients, addressing an often-overlooked health issue in Ghana.
Dr. Abigail Adu, Senior Medical Officer at the Madina Project Directorate of the Visionary Norman Foundation, emphasized the organization’s commitment to raising sickle cell awareness at a recent health fair and blood drive. “We also want to create awareness in the community about sickle cell,” she noted, highlighting that, unlike breast cancer, sickle cell receives little attention despite affecting many Ghanaians.
The event included a blood drive to support the Sickle Cell Division at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. “That’s why we’re here—to make a tangible difference by donating blood and spreading knowledge,” Dr. Adu explained.
Donor Kofi also shared his experience after contributing to the program, “…….I decided to embark on this exercise because I see giving blood to people can actually help save people’s life. The reason being that you don’t know when a misfortune or an accident will happen. But in case of an accident, when you go to hospital, you have to get blood to save life. So I donated so that anytime you go to the blood bank, they will get blood to save life. When there is an accident or when the process is normal, the feeling is a normal.”
He also urge all Ghanaians to participate in blood donation to support the Blood Banks in the various hospitals “I will urge all Ghanaians to take this call as an urgent call to donate to safety. Because when you donate blood actually you won’t lose anything because the blood will regain itself in a short period of time. So I’ll urge all Ghanaians who qualify to donate blood to come on bird to donate to support.” He added.
