Blood Transfusion Services only left with stock of just over 13 days – calls for donations
The Namibia Blood Transfusion Services (NamBTS) is in need of a minimum of 4500 blood donations and 150 platelets of blood to ensure that hospitals across the country have sufficient blood stock to treat patients during the festive season.
NamBTS Education Officer, Titus Shivute, said the period from December to mid-January 2018 will be one of the most difficult times for the NamBTS because blood stock levels will be low due to the unavailability of donors due to the holiday season.
Shivute said that Transfusion services currently meaning that based on average demand, there is enough blood for 13 days if no further collections are made.
“We however expect this figure to drop during December because collections decrease significantly and demand increases gradually, especially in emergency cases. During this period last year, we had a blood stock of close to 6 days,” he added.
According to Shivute, in efforts to build up blood stocks, the service has since launched their festive campaign themed, “All we want for Christmas is you”.
“We are also hosting clinics in the towns of Otjiwarongo, Okahandja Outjo, Grootfontein, Keetmanshoop, Mariental, Oshakati, Ongwediva, Ondangwa and Arandis in order to give the residents in these towns an opportunity to help save lives this festive season by donating blood,” he added.
Furthermore he said that the transfusion services team coastal team will have blood donation clinics throughout the December period in both Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
Meanwhile, he said that through the campaigns each and every donor that donates blood will receive a complimentary gift for assisting in helping save lives.
