21 Nov 2017

Senior nursing officer at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, Mr Dick Rakereng has implored councillors in Tonota to take part in educating the public on issues concerning blood donation.

Mr Rakereng said during the opening of Tonota Sub-council on November 20 that interventions by councillors included supporting blood collection drives and continuous dissemination of information and motivation.

He further added that they should organise a planned blood donation drives for different wards or conduct them jointly on regular basis.

He further implored them to assist in sourcing local sponsors for blood donation drives such as incentives, refreshments, water and fruits.

Mr Rakereng further noted that the reasons for low blood collection in the country included insufficient awareness and publicity, lack of knowledge and education, and ignorance by the community.

He briefly took the councillors through the process of donating blood, indicating that it first started with information dissemination and education, health screening and counselling, followed by phlebotomy and post donation care.

Also in his presentation, Mr Rakereng stated that blood collected from donours was normally given to expectant mothers during delivery, anemia patients, and blood loss patients due to different causes as well as for medical and surgical procedures.

Responding to the presentation by Mr Rakereng, councillor for Tonota East, Mr Thatayaone Moreng asked why blood donation volunteers were not tested for different diseases prior to their blood being collected.

He further suggested that the ministry should come up with monetary incentives to encourage people to donate blood.

Chief registered nurse at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, Mr Joseph Maotshe responded to questions posed by Mr Moreng by explaining that it would be expensive to conduct health screening prior to blood collection.

Mr Rakereng also explained that the World Health Organisation encouraged unpaid blood donations, adding that they were the safest.

He added that with monetary incentives people would use blood donation as a source of income and said that volunteers would not be forthcoming with the state of their health all in the pursuit of getting paid. ENDS