Africa-Press – Namibia. Namibia’s national blood supply has dropped to critical levels, prompting the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NamBTS) to issue an urgent appeal for donations.
Zita Tobin, Manager of Marketing and Donor Relations at NamBTS, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, said that the service requires 250 units of whole blood per day to meet demand throughout the month of June.
“During the colder months, regular donors are also deferred due to colds and flu,” she said.
She noted that the recent public holidays in May significantly reduced collection opportunities, even though the need for blood remained constant.
“Motor vehicle accidents on our roads still occurred as people travelled to and from their destinations, cancer patients continued with their treatment during the holidays and babies continued to be born, some requiring life-saving transfusions,” said Tobin.
All blood collected is currently being issued immediately to patients, leaving no reserve supply, she said.
“There are still patients in the hospitals countrywide who need immediate blood transfusions. While all patients have received blood, there are no reserves, which means every day we need to meet the demand of the hospitals and that means donors need to donate,” she added.
NamBTS is operating fixed donation centres in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Oshakati and Ondangwa, in addition to scheduled mobile clinics across the country.
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