Maria David
GIVING blood can be the ultimate gift this festive season, with the hope of saving lives. Thus, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS) is urging all eligible blood donors in Namibia to commit to donating blood regularly to help ensure the lives of thousands of patients leading up to the festive season.
Titus Shivute, Supervisor of Marketing and Donor Relations, stated that NAMBTS requires over 170 blood donations daily to meet the demand for blood in hospitals. They have observed significant increases in blood transfusions to patients over the past two months, leading to the current critical blood shortage.
Shivute indicated that blood products are used in many cases, not just for trauma and emergency patients in need of blood after a motor vehicle accident or other accidents.
He said that despite all efforts to recuperate from a blood shortage over the past two weeks, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS) is still currently experiencing a shortage of blood.
“The blood reserves have dropped to a 5-day blood stock, with O-positive and O-negative blood types being the most affected. This means that blood banks and hospitals in the country only have sufficient blood that will last for the next 5 days if no significant further blood collections are made,” he said.
He added that mothers having complications during pregnancy and birth, premature infants, burn victims, cancer patients, patients with chronic illnesses, surgery patients, and others with renal, cardiac, liver, and blood conditions all require blood products during December and January.
Further, Shivute said the country only has a 5-day blood supply, categorized as significantly low. The ideal blood stock level is a 9-12 day supply, which would help ensure that all patients who need blood and blood products can receive potentially life-saving transfusions.
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.
Shivute then called on all Namibians who are well and able to spare thirty minutes of their time, regular and new blood donors between the ages of 16-65 years old to donate at any of the fixed site centres in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, or Oshakati, and mobile blood donation sessions scheduled in Okahandja, Ongwediva, Rehoboth, and Outapi this week.
He also invites all active, dormant, or first-time donors to donate blood at the blood donation clinic.
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