15 Sep 2015

After realising that people are reluctant to donate blood due to various reasons that included distance travelled to a donation centre, Serowe Blood Donation Centre, based in Sekgoma Memorial Hospital, has resorted to a mobile donation office.

Mr Nametso Taolo, a nursing officer at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital said in an interview recently that the hospital experiences a shortage of blood as most people could not manage to come to the laboratory during weekdays. 

He said they have as a result found it fit for their mobile blood donation centre to move around government institutions, and even churches to encourage people to donate blood. 

Mr Taolo further said 40 000 units of blood are needed nationally but they currently have managed to acquire only around 25 000 units. The blood is used during emergencies such as car accidents where people have lost blood. He said lives have been lost previously due to a deficit in the blood banks. 

Mr Taolo said anyone aged between 16 and 65 years can donate blood and has therefore encouraged people to donate. 

He said they encourage the youth to donate blood since prevalence rate of diseases such as high blood pressure and sugar diabetes is minimal in their age group.  Mr Taolo said they currently have one mobile team moving around government institutions in Serowe and they each day target a minimum of eight blood donors. 

He said in most cases they reach their target which is quite pleasing. Ends