Give the gift of life this Christmas

HAD it not been for a blood transfusion, these lively eight-year-old twins would not be posing happily for a picture with their mom.Born prematurely to Kumbee Upi, George (left) and Ismael are living proof that blood donors can save lives.

The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia is appealing to donors to come forward and help provide the blood needed for emergencies over the holiday period. The regular daily target is 75 units of blood, totalling almost 20 000 units a year.”Without the willingness of donors to share life, and without the support of thousands of donors, many patients in Namibia – premature babies, children who are anaemic due to malaria, traffic accident victims, persons undergoing surgery or cancer chemotherapy – would have no hope,” the Blood Transfusion Service said in a statement issued in Windhoek.The demand for blood at this time of the year is unpredictable, requiring the service to keep larger stocks than normal to cover any crisis.While the blood group of the donor needs to match the blood group of the patient, blood group O may be suitable for other patients as well.”That is the reason why the Blood Transfusion Service often appeals specifically to O donors to come and donate,” the statement said.In Namibia, 44 per cent of the population belong to the O blood group, followed by 42 per cent with group A, 10 per cent group B and four per cent group AB.The service made a special appeal to the youth, who have been donating blood at schools countrywide, to come forward and donate during the holidays as well.You can donate blood at any of the clinics below at the coast over the festive season: Wednesday, Dec 21: Henties Bay – Town Hall 09h00 – 14h00 Thursday, Dec 22: Swakopmund – Woermann Brock Mall 08h30 – 12h00 Tuesday, Dec 27: Swakopmund – Woermann Brock, Vineta 12h00 – 16h00 Wednesday, Dec 28: Swakopmund – The Mole 10h00 to 15h00 Thursday, Dec 29: Swakopmund – Shoprite 10h00 – 15h00 Friday, Dec 30: Swakopmund – Shoprite 08h00 – 11h00 In Windhoek, blood can be donated before Christmas at the following times: Weekdays: Hidas Centre, Klein Windhoek from 09h00 to 14h00 (except Friday until 13h00) Weekdays: United House (opposite the main post office) from 08h30 to 15h00.Monday and Thursday until 16h30 but Friday until 13h00.Thursday, Dec 22: Gustav Voigts Centre 10h00 – 14h00 Friday, Dec 23: Baines Shopping Centre 09h00 – 12h00 Friday, Dec 23: Wernhil Shopping Centre 09h00 – 12h00 After Christmas, donations can be made at the following times: Weekdays: Hidas Centre, Klein Windhoek 09h00 – 14h00 except Friday until 13h00 Weekdays: United House (opposite main post office) 08h30 – 15h00, Thursday until 16h30 and Friday, until 13h00 Friday, Dec 30: Auas Valley Shopping Centre 09h00 – 12h00.The regular daily target is 75 units of blood, totalling almost 20 000 units a year.”Without the willingness of donors to share life, and without the support of thousands of donors, many patients in Namibia – premature babies, children who are anaemic due to malaria, traffic accident victims, persons undergoing surgery or cancer chemotherapy – would have no hope,” the Blood Transfusion Service said in a statement issued in Windhoek.The demand for blood at this time of the year is unpredictable, requiring the service to keep larger stocks than normal to cover any crisis.While the blood group of the donor needs to match the blood group of the patient, blood group O may be suitable for other patients as well.”That is the reason why the Blood Transfusion Service often appeals specifically to O donors to come and donate,” the statement said.In Namibia, 44 per cent of the population belong to the O blood group, followed by 42 per cent with group A, 10 per cent group B and four per cent group AB.The service made a special appeal to the youth, who have been donating blood at schools countrywide, to come forward and donate during the holidays as well.You can donate blood at any of the clinics below at the coast over the festive season: Wednesday, Dec 21: Henties Bay – Town Hall 09h00 – 14h00 Thursday, Dec 22: Swakopmund – Woermann Brock Mall 08h30 – 12h00 Tuesday, Dec 27: Swakopmund – Woermann Brock, Vineta 12h00 – 16h00 Wednesday, Dec 28: Swakopmund – The Mole 10h00 to 15h00 Thursday, Dec 29: Swakopmund – Shoprite 10h00 – 15h00 Friday, Dec 30: Swakopmund – Shoprite 08h00 – 11h00 In Windhoek, blood can be donated before Christmas at the following times: Weekdays: Hidas Centre, Klein Windhoek from 09h00 to 14h00 (except Friday until 13h00) Weekdays: United House (opposite the main post office) from 08h30 to 15h00.Monday and Thursday until 16h30 but Friday until 13h00.Thursday, Dec 22: Gustav Voigts Centre 10h00 – 14h00 Friday, Dec 23: Baines Shopping Centre 09h00 – 12h00 Friday, Dec 23: Wernhil Shopping Centre 09h00 – 12h00 After Christmas, donations can be made at the following times: Weekdays: Hidas Centre, Klein Windhoek 09h00 – 14h00 except Friday until 13h00 Weekdays: United House (opposite main post office) 08h30 – 15h00, Thursday until 16h30 and Friday, until 13h00 Friday, Dec 30: Auas Valley Shopping Centre 09h00 – 12h00.