Sitting calmly in a reclined seat, talking on the phone and waiting for the male nurse to insert the needle for the blood transfusion is Sudene Vorster, a medical professional who is donating blood for the 30th time.
“I have been doing this since secondary school; on and off, which was nice until I started studying medicine and realised the dire need and shortage of blood reserves in the country,” she told Vital Signs during a blood donation drive at Grove Mall recently.
Vorster said the blood donation drives by the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NamBTS) to the School of Medicine campus in the capital motivated her to donate blood, adding that there are a lot of blood products used in hospitals – another push for her to keep on donating.
The NamBTS has been encouraging Namibians and visitors to the country to donate blood as healthcare institutions need plasma and other blood products for transfusions.
“For me, that’s a motivation to put back what has been used. I urge Namibians to donate blood and ensure that hospitals have enough blood stocks,” she said.
Vorster believes the reason for the low blood donations could be fear of the unknown.
“I think people are afraid and it’s a matter of fear than anything else but over a few times, one gets over that. What you have to bear in mind is the number of lives you might save with your donation. Our donation is small compared to the number of people we are helping and health institutions always need blood products, especially different blood groups.”
Lying on the stretcher next to Vorster is Tangeni Katengela who had turned 26 and wanted to celebrate his birthday by donating blood and giving someone else a chance to live.
“I am a frequent donor. I have been a donor for four years. I like donating blood and I do it four times a year,” said the energetic Katengela who works at a retail shop at the Grove Mall.
He said donating blood had become a civic duty for him to help those Namibians in need of blood transfusion and the best he can do for them is to make a donation.
“I like donating blood for obvious reasons; people need the blood. There is also a shortage of blood donors in the country nowadays so I just like being that kind of person who donates blood four times a year,” he stated.
Katengela appealed: “My fellow Namibians and visitors to the country, please donate blood and save a life. Have a heart to give life to another person. I just donated blood, I didn’t lose anything; my blood is still flowing perfectly and nothing has changed”.
Another regular donor, Hilma Angala (24) had just donated blood for the 15th time and does it for the purpose of saving lives.
“I work in a hospital setting and I have seen how people need blood transfusions. I am O+ so why not,” said Angala who is a nurse, adding that should she one day need transfusion, she will be assisted by others in a heartbeat, as gratitude for her noble gesture and goodwill.
She said for as long as she can donate blood, she will continue doing so religiously without any interruptions and advised Namibians who have not donated yet, to jump on the bandwagon and help where they can.
“Only 1% of the Namibian population donates blood annually. We are encouraging all potential donors aged between 16-65 years to lead sexually safe and healthy lifestyles, be committed to helping others and to weigh more than 50kg to commit to donating blood regularly,” NamBTS’ spokesperson Titus Shivute told Vital Signs.
He added that donors can donate blood every 56 days.