On 9th December 2025, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana demonstrated the power of collective action and community service through a successful blood donation exercise led by Mastercard Foundation Scholars.

Organised in partnership with the Blood Bank Unit of LEKMA Hospital and supported by the Scholars Program Manager at AIMS, Mrs. Beauty Beatrice Kwawu, the initiative aimed to contribute to addressing persistent shortages in blood supply across health facilities in the southern zone of Ghana.

The response from the AIMS Ghana community exceeded all expectations. More than 40 units of blood were collected during the exercise, with over 40 AIMS Scholars donating alongside alumni, researchers, teachers, security personnel, staff, and other members of the wider community. According to health experts, these donations have the potential to save up to 100 lives, especially when blood components are prepared from each unit, allowing the donations to benefit multiple patients in need.

Speaking at the exercise, Mr. Andrew Bekoe, Medical Laboratory Scientist at the LEKMA Hospital Blood Bank, commended the institution for its remarkable turnout. “Institutional initiatives like this go a long way in helping to address the shortfalls in blood supply to the blood bank and its onward distribution to various health facilities,” he said. “The turnout from AIMS Ghana has been impressive; much more than we anticipated. Almost everyone who was eligible donated.”

Mr. Bekoe also took the opportunity to dispel common misconceptions surrounding blood donation. He explained that many people fear negative health effects, but these concerns are unfounded. “Once you are properly tested and meet all the required criteria, you can donate safely without any adverse impact. In fact, blood donation helps the body regenerate new red blood cells, which can be rejuvenating for the individual,” he noted.

The exercise reflects AIMS Ghana’s strong culture of social responsibility and its commitment to giving back to society. Led by Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the Centre, the initiative underscored the role young leaders can play in driving meaningful community impact beyond the classroom.

The organizing team also expressed deep appreciation to the LEKMA Hospital team, for their professionalism and partnership, as well as to all students, scholars, staff, researchers, alumni and visitors who participated. Through this collective effort, the AIMS Ghana community has once again shown that together, we can save lives and strengthen a lasting culture of service.