Think RED on Valentine’s Day

THE Blood Donation Service of Namibia has launched a ‘Valentine’s to Valentine’s’ blood donor promotion to encourage donors to give blood three times a year.

On average, a blood donor donates 1.7 times a year. If this can be increased to three donations year, by just 1 000 of the 10 000 donors in Namibia, it would mean an additional 1 000 units of blood a year – blood that is urgently needed.With this promotion, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia also hopes to attract new donors.People leading a healthy lifestyle, with a safe sex life, who are older than 16, younger than 65 and weigh over 50 kg can become donors and take part in the Valentine’s to Valentine’s blood donor promotion.People who donate three times over the next 12 months will receive a gift bag, which includes an insulated coffee mug that will tell all your co-workers that you’re a lifesaver.Existing blood donors can also take part in the promotion, which runs from today.At times during the December holidays, the service’s blood bank was critically depleted, especially of Blood Group O, which can be used in all patients needing a blood transfusion.The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia collected 1 657 units of blood during January, restoring the minimum supply of all blood groups that it needs to maintain at all times.With the malaria season ahead, however, it will be a struggle once more to maintain the minimum supply and help all those in need of live-saving transfusions.If this can be increased to three donations year, by just 1 000 of the 10 000 donors in Namibia, it would mean an additional 1 000 units of blood a year – blood that is urgently needed.With this promotion, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia also hopes to attract new donors.People leading a healthy lifestyle, with a safe sex life, who are older than 16, younger than 65 and weigh over 50 kg can become donors and take part in the Valentine’s to Valentine’s blood donor promotion.People who donate three times over the next 12 months will receive a gift bag, which includes an insulated coffee mug that will tell all your co-workers that you’re a lifesaver.Existing blood donors can also take part in the promotion, which runs from today.At times during the December holidays, the service’s blood bank was critically depleted, especially of Blood Group O, which can be used in all patients needing a blood transfusion.The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia collected 1 657 units of blood during January, restoring the minimum supply of all blood groups that it needs to maintain at all times.With the malaria season ahead, however, it will be a struggle once more to maintain the minimum supply and help all those in need of live-saving transfusions.