Drydocks double as blood clinics

Elgin Brown & Hamer Namibia, the operator of the three drydocks in the Walvis Bay harbour, has come out in support of the Namibian Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS), by offering space for a regular blood donation clinic for its own staff members and for other dock workers.
This week, EBH announced it has decided to get involved with blood donation again this year following and urgent request in June by the Blood Transfusion Service, for more blood. At that point, the national blood supply was sufficient for only three days instead of the optimum nine days.
Furthermore, in July this year, the Ministry of Health and Social Services conducted a nationwide immunisation campaign, which also affected the national blood supply as recently immunised adults may not donate blood.
“No country is immune from the ongoing challenge of blood shortages – because the need for blood is so unpredictable and can be affected by many factors. At any given time, our country’s supply could be only one day away from running out,” said Hannes Uys, Chief Executive Officer of EBH Namibia.
“As a corporate citizen that is very involved in the community, EBH Namibia is able to make a tangible difference. I am happy to say that since our first blood donation clinic in November 2014, we have managed to potentially save over 340 lives to date,” he highlighted.
The Blood Transfusion Service is a national non-profit healthcare organisation, mandated to collect, test and issue blood products to all patients in need of blood transfusion. The organisation has even taken to social media platforms over recent months, to stress the urgency for donations when blood stocks are critically low.
Uys said it is important not to lose sight of their corporate social responsibilities, even when the company is battling with reduced revenues and adverse market conditions.
“116 units of blood were collected in 2015, with a total of 348 lives potentially saved through EBH Namibia’s’ efforts; and this year the company has already contributed 104 units,” said Zita Tobin of the Blood Transfusion Service, adding that the employees of EBH Namibia are dependable, altruistic donors. “They are our local heroes, who give up their time and selflessly donate their blood.”