OSHAKATI - The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NamBTS) is currently experiencing a shortage of blood.

Marketing and Donor Relations’ Supervisor Titus Shivute said the country only has five days of blood supply, which is categorised as significantly low.

“The blood reserves have dropped to five days’ blood stock, with O-positive and O-negative blood types being the most affected. 

This means blood banks and hospitals in the country only have sufficient blood that will last for the next five days if no significant further blood collections are made,” he stressed.

The ideal blood stock level is a 9-12 day supply, which would help ensure that all patients who need blood and blood products are able to receive potentially life-saving transfusions.

“We require over 170 blood donations daily in order to meet the demand for blood in hospitals, and they have observed significant increases in blood transfusions to patients over the past two months, leading to the current critical blood shortage,” Shivute stated.

He added that despite all efforts to alleviate the blood shortage over the past two weeks, NamBTS is still currently experiencing a shortage of blood.

Blood products are used in many cases, not just for trauma and emergency patients in need of blood after a motor- vehicle accident or other accidents.

Shivute stated that the blood benefit mothers having complications during pregnancy and birth, premature infants, burn victims, cancer patients, patients with chronic illnesses, surgery patients and others with renal, cardiac, liver and blood conditions all requiring blood products during December and January.

He thus urged all eligible blood donors in Namibia to commit to donating blood regularly in a bid to help ensure the lives of thousands of patients.

Donations can be done at any of their fixed site centres in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa or Oshakati, while mobile blood donation sessions are scheduled for Okahandja, Ongwediva, Rehoboth and Outapi this week. -Nampa