14 May 2013

Public officers in the Okavango sub-district have been urged to donate blood to save lives of people involved in accidents and expectant mothers.

Addressing officers in Gumare on May 14, the National Blood Transfusion Services Donor Recruiter, Mr Thabo Mashani said that some people do not donate blood for fear of injection pain.

 "We should look at a case of someone, or maybe you close relative involved in an accident and urgently needs blood” he said.

 He also said that his organisation’s aim was to ensure sure that hospitals across the country have blood all the time.

 Mr Mashani only 450 millilitres of blood is required from an individual.

A human being, he noted, has blood average of about 4-6 litres and that it only takes one to drink litre of water in order to get back the 450 ml of blood again.

The donation requires tests for diseases such as HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B and C, he said.

 In an interview, a regular donor, Mr Moabi Kesane has encouraged people to  eat well balanced meals and hydrate themselves enough in ordet for one to have a positive experience.

 ’Your body will begin to replace the blood immediately,’’ he said.  ENDS