Jaenique Swartz  

The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NamBTS) recently announced that it is experiencing exponentially low blood stocks – the lowest reserves it has held over the last four years.  

Titus Shivute, supervisor of marketing and donor relations at NamBTS, highlighted the severity of this predicament.

“We are experiencing a high demand for blood from hospitals across the country. The nation’s blood stocks are extremely low, compelling us to appeal for increased blood donations to help those who may need transfusions during this period. The blood stock we have is just enough for only two days, and this is a cause for great concern to us.”  

Shivute further said the heightened need for donations stems from the increased demand of blood transfusions during the weeks leading up to December last year.

“While blood collection figures were relatively below par due to public holidays during the festive season, various trauma accidents, scheduled operations and patients with illnesses that require many units of blood resulted in a staggering amount of blood being used during December to help save those patients.” 

The blood types that are currently in critical short supply are the O-positive and O-negative as well as the B-positive and B- negative blood types. To meet demand, NamBTS must collect 170 per day of which more than 50% must be the O blood types.  

Statistics provided by NamBTS show that only 1.2% of Namibians donate blood annually, and the entity stressed the need for more Namibians to regularly donate blood to alleviate situations where patients are unable to receive transfusions. “We need all Namibians, active donors, lapsed donors and potential donors to bolster the national blood stocks.”  

Despite the challenges the service has been facing in recent weeks, it continues liaising with all major hospitals around the country to ensure that all routine and emergency medical procedures take place during this period.

“We are working closely with our stakeholders to help mitigate the current blood shortage and our blood banks are carefully monitoring the number of units in stock at all hospitals and medical centres to ensure that all patients who need transfusions receive the medical intervention,” Shivute said.  

Shivute thanked all those who donated blood in the past week as this improved the situation: “We project that the situation will improve during the course of the week with the support of our committed blood donors”. 

 - jaeniqueswartz@icloud.com