Maria David
THE Namibian Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS) is facing a critically low supply of blood stocks.
NamBTS spokesperson Titus Shivute said due to increased blood transfusions in hospitals which picked up since September, coupled with low intake at various blood donation drives, their reserves have dropped and blood type O is the most needed.
“Blood banks and hospitals in the country only have sufficient blood that will last for the next four days if no significant further blood collections are made,” he said, adding that the situation is critical.
“We need the assistance of blood donors in order to help save the lives of patients, be it mothers who bleed excessively during childbirth, cancer patients as part of their treatment, patients who are involved in trauma incidents and those who require various surgeries this festive season,” he said.
NamBTS will be hosting two blood donation clinics in Windhoek on Saturday to help rebuild the blood reserves for hospitals around the country.
The clinics will be stationed at NamBTS Head Office and the Grove Mall of Namibia, in front of Checkers.
Shivute said NamBTS has introduced applicable precautions for the safety of donors during the donation process as advised by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the World Health Organization in helping combat the spread of Covid-19.
He appealed to all donors, especially those with blood type O, to donate immediately to help save lives.
