Blood donors wanted

WITH almost everyone preparing to go on holidays, Namibia risks facing a serious blood shortage during the upcoming holiday season if regular and new blood donors do not heed calls for more donations.

Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia’s spokesperson Liesel Schwerdtfeger told The Namibian yesterday that hospitals, anticipating an increase in the need for blood, have almost emptied the blood bank and they need to refill as the festive season approaches. Schwerdtfeger said they need at least 240 units of O+ blood group.Other blood groups are also needed.One unit contains 450 ml of blood, which is equal to 10 per cent of the blood volume in a healthy person.Healthy people can donate 450 ml of blood every 56 days, but no more than six times a year.She said the Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) faced a critical blood shortage and called on all existing and dormant donors, as well as new ones, to make a donation before the holidays.”Hospitals took a lot of stock in anticipation of the festive season and others came because they heard that we might run out of blood.We must get more blood as soon as possible.It’s a vicious circle,” Schwerdtfeger said.Schools contribute around 30 per cent of the service’s blood collection.The BTS appealed to regular donors at schools and colleges to attend other blood-collection clinics during the school holidays.Schwerdtfeger said blood collectors will be at Wernhil Park in front of Woolworths from 09h00 to 14h00 tomorrow while the clinic in United House – opposite the main post office in Windhoek’s Independence Avenue – is open every day.A clinic will also be stationed at the Hidas Shopping Centre in Klein Windhoek between 13h00 and 18h00 on Wednesdays and from 09h00 to 14h00 all other days.”We must get blood in urgently to build up stocks.Every unit counts,” Schwerdtfeger emphasised.Schwerdtfeger said they need at least 240 units of O+ blood group.Other blood groups are also needed.One unit contains 450 ml of blood, which is equal to 10 per cent of the blood volume in a healthy person.Healthy people can donate 450 ml of blood every 56 days, but no more than six times a year.She said the Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) faced a critical blood shortage and called on all existing and dormant donors, as well as new ones, to make a donation before the holidays.”Hospitals took a lot of stock in anticipation of the festive season and others came because they heard that we might run out of blood.We must get more blood as soon as possible.It’s a vicious circle,” Schwerdtfeger said.Schools contribute around 30 per cent of the service’s blood collection.The BTS appealed to regular donors at schools and colleges to attend other blood-collection clinics during the school holidays.Schwerdtfeger said blood collectors will be at Wernhil Park in front of Woolworths from 09h00 to 14h00 tomorrow while the clinic in United House – opposite the main post office in Windhoek’s Independence Avenue – is open every day.A clinic will also be stationed at the Hidas Shopping Centre in Klein Windhoek between 13h00 and 18h00 on Wednesdays and from 09h00 to 14h00 all other days.”We must get blood in urgently to build up stocks.Every unit counts,” Schwerdtfeger emphasised.