Niël Terblanché
A simple act of kindness and generosity can save lives and, in this regard, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS) issued a heartfelt plea to all eligible blood donors in Namibia to step forward and donate blood regularly as the festive season approaches.
The call comes as the nation faces a critical shortage of blood, threatening the lives of countless patients.
Despite tireless efforts to recover from a blood shortage over the past two weeks, NAMBTS continues to struggle with a shortage of vital blood supplies.
Titus Shivute, the Supervisor of Marketing and Donor Relations at NAMBTS shared concerning statistics, revealing that the blood reserves have dwindled to a mere five-day stock. The most affected blood types are O-positive and O-negative.
“This means that blood banks and hospitals in the country only have sufficient blood to last for the next five days if no significant further blood collections are made,” Shivute stressed.
He indicated that NAMBTS requires more than 170 blood donations daily to meet the demand in hospitals, and the past two months have seen a substantial increase in blood transfusions, exacerbating the current critical blood shortage.
He said that blood products are not solely required for trauma and emergency cases, such as motor vehicle accidents; they are also essential for mothers experiencing childbirth complications, premature infants, burn victims, cancer patients, individuals with chronic illnesses, surgery patients, and those with renal, cardiac, liver, and blood conditions.
“The demand for blood and blood products is expected to surge during December and January,” he said.
Shivute stressed the urgency by saying that the country only has a blood supply for five days, which is categorized as significantly low.
“The ideal blood stock level is a 9-to-12-day supply, which would help ensure that all patients who need blood and blood products are able to receive potentially life-saving transfusions,” he said.
While expressing gratitude to the dedicated blood donors across Namibia, Shivute said, “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 saved.”
NAMBTS invites regular and new blood donors aged between 16 and 65 years old to donate at any of the fixed site centres in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, or Oshakati.
For those in Windhoek, free transport arrangements can be made by contacting Salmi at 081 122 1265.
By donating blood, a person can make a profound difference in the lives of people in dire need.
Shivute outlined the basic donor criteria, emphasizing that donors should be between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh more than 50 kilograms, be in good health, lead a safe lifestyle, and be committed to helping others.
Additionally, donors are advised to eat a substantial meal 3 to 4 hours before donating blood, stay well-hydrated by drinking lots of water or juice before, during, and after donation, and take it easy on exercise after donating.
“An act of kindness and generosity can save lives this festive season. Join hands with NAMBTS and become a lifeline for those in need. Donate blood and be a hero in the truest sense,” Shivute implored.
