Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibia Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS) has urged Namibians to commit to donating blood regularly this year.
The urge comes after the NamBTS recorded a significant drop in blood collections over the latter stages of the preceding festive season.
Titus Shivute Supervisor, Marketing and Donor Relations said NamBTS currently only has three to four days’ bloodstock in their reserves whole countrywide.
According to him, the desired blood supply is a 9-day blood stock level which would ensure that there are sufficient blood and blood products throughout hospitals countrywide.
Shivute said that only 1% of the population donates blood annually, and NamBTS need the assistance of more Namibians of all blood types to donate blood regularly this year.
“We urged all eligible blood donors in Namibia to commit to donating blood regularly in a bid to help ensure that the lives of thousands of patients are saved this year,” he said.
He added that to meet the demand for blood given to patients, NamBTS needs to collect an average of 160 blood donations daily.
Shivute said NamBTS reported a 9.5% increase in overall blood collections during the 2022 financial year with a 14% increase in the blood donor population in the country.
He said that the only way to give patients access to this precious life-saving resource, is through the selfless act of blood donation as blood cannot be manufactured, and there is no substitute for it.
Further, it is in constant demand for accident victims, haemophiliacs, surgeries, infants, patients battling cancer and more.
“We have observed that many blood donors often donate once at a young age and thereafter defer from donating for a number of years,” he added.
According to him, one can donate blood every 56 days (roughly two months) and they encourage everyone to donate at least four times in a calendar year.
“The demand for blood and blood products is ever-increasing and we would like to thank all blood donors in the country who continue to donate blood and help ensure that the lives of patients are potentially saved,” he stressed.
Shivute then called on Namibians to spare 30 minutes of their time, regular and new blood donors between the ages of 16-65 years old can donate at any of the fixed site centres in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, or Oshakati.
NamBTS further encouraged corporate, educational, retail, industrial and other institutions to approach their offices if they would like mobile blood donation sessions held at their premises for their convenience.
Shivute noted that they will also have a blood drive in Windhoek on Saturday, and all blood donors will receive a complementary N$30 airtime as a token of appreciation.
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