By Henry B. Gboluma, Jr.
Today, Liberia’s Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders, officially launched a voluntary blood donation campaign in Bopolu City.
The initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and to encourage citizens to participate actively in saving lives through voluntary donations.
Blood donation is a critical component of healthcare systems worldwide. It ensures that health facilities have the necessary blood supplies to treat emergencies, surgeries, and patients with medical conditions that require blood transfusion.
Liberia has a longstanding history of voluntary blood donation, which gained momentum in recent years as part of efforts to improve health outcomes and reduce dependence on paid or replacement donors.
Promoting voluntary donation is essential to establishing a safe and sustainable blood supply system.
The campaign commenced today with a stakeholders’ meeting, held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) western Liberia office in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County.
Following the meeting, a team engaged with residents at the local market and car-park, in the city, to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood voluntarily.
During the outreach, Gbarpolu County Health Officer, Dr. Kezelebah Goyah, emphasized the significance of voluntary blood donation, urging citizens and residents to donate blood freely to ensure that the hospital in Bopolu City always has enough blood to save lives.
Dr. Goyah noted that voluntary blood donations are safer and more sustainable than replacement or paid donors.
During the occasion, the Clan Chief of Bondi Clan in Bopolu District, Chief Norbor Mawolo, addressed villagers in his local language, Kpelle, encouraging them to participate without fear.
Chief Mawolo’s message underscored community solidarity and the vital role that blood donors play in saving lives.
For his part, James Kpoto Scott, County Administrative Officer, reiterated the importance of community participation in the blood donation drive, emphasizing that voluntary donation is a civic responsibility that benefits all.
Peter T. Ballah, Secretary of the Bopolu District Youth Association, urged young people to be proactive and willing to donate blood, stressing that their contribution could make a life-saving difference.
Also making remarks during the meeting, the Director of the Blood Safety Program at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Onyekwchi C. Subah, shared encouraging news about Liberia’s ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening health services.
She used the occasion to announce the launch of a three-day training program in Gbarpolu County, aimed at enhancing the capacity of health workers in digital health data management.
The training focuses on the use of the Electronic Immunization Registry (EIR), a system developed with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and Liberia’s Ministry of Health.
The initiative seeks to improve the accuracy of health data, streamline reporting processes that will ultimately increase immunization coverage for children across Liberia.
This campaign represents a significant step toward building a resilient health system and fostering a culture of voluntary blood donation in Liberia, according to Dr. Subah.
