15 Jun 2017

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has acknowledged voluntary blood donors for their saving-gift of blood towards patients suffering from life-threatening conditions.

The blood donors were recognised and awarded with token of appreciation and certificates during the World Donor Day in Maun on June 14 under the theme “Give blood. Give now, Give often”.

Some of the donors appreciated were from junior and secondary schools, colleges, brigades, government departments, private companies and members of the public. 

Secondary schools remain the main contributors in blood donations in the country and Shakawe Senior Secondary School in the Okavango district was declared the best senior school and overall panel in donation of blood.

The acting deputy permanent secretary from the ministry, Mr Botsang John extended gratitude to the students and organisations for taking the lead in blood donation collection activities to save lives of many people.

He emphasised the importance of donating saying  blood was an important resource both for planned treatments and urgent interventions and thanked the donors for contributing to the growth of the National Blood Transfusion Services.

“Adequate blood supply during emergencies requires a well-organised blood service and this can only be assured by engaging the entire community and a blood donor population committed to voluntary, unpaid blood donation throughout the year,” he added.

Mr John observed that World Health Organization (WHO) goal is for all countries to obtain all their blood supplies from voluntary, unpaid donors by 2020 adding that Botswana is proud to have 100 per cent donation from voluntary and unpaid blood donors in line with the Melbourne Declaration.

Furthermore, the acting deputy permanent secretary noted that the lives and health of millions of people around the world were affected by emergencies every year.

All over the world, he said the supply of adequate blood was a challenge for blood services, Botswana is no exception.

The Botswana National Blood Transfusion Services is required to collect 40 000 blood units per year.

It was reported that in 2016, a total of 25 824 were collected which translates into 65 per cent of the total needed blood.

Mr John also revealed that the ministry had decentralised blood collection to health districts .

The centres were established in four villages being Mahalapye, Molepolole, Maun and Serowe.

The four centres, he said had an immediate positive impact as 6937 units of blood were collected.

He  thanked  the four District Health Management Teams for the impressive results and encouraged them to continue working hard for the improvement of blood situation in the country.

For her part, senior medical officer from Letsholathebe Memorial hospital, Dr Nthabiseng Machacha explained that blood transfusion was an essential part of patient care adding that as health personnel, they attended patients on a daily basis who were in dire need of blood transfusion.

She said blood helped patients suffering from threatening conditions live longer with a higher quality of life. She appealed to those who were not yet blood donors not to wait for disaster to strike but act and give blood now and often. ENDS