20 Jan 2020

First National Bank of Botswana, in partnership with National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC), held a blood transfusion event to kick start  its 2020 blood donation drive.

The event was a major activity for the bank’s community service day held on Sunday at the University of Botswana Stadium.

In his address, FNBB Foundation board of trustees member Dr Odiseng Lesedinyana encouraged the public to donate blood as much as one’s body allowed given this country’s great need for blood.

Botswana needs 45 000 units of blood annually to meet the ever growing demand for it, said Dr Lesedinyana.

“Donated blood is used for road traffic accidents victims, women who may need blood after delivery, cancer patients, anaemic patients to mention a few and you can imagine how many of those people we have weekly, monthly and yearly.

We will not end here but continue with this initiative to help NBTC get most blood,” he said.

NBTC head of recruitment relations, Mr Dick Rakereng said the organisation did not have enough blood in its stalls.

He said men and women should be encouraged to give blood every four and three months respectively noting that the donation could even save the lives of donors’ loved ones.

Mr Rakereng whereas the fit and healthy might not need blood but someone in their blood line’s lives might depend on donated blood.

He advised against drinking alcohol before donating saying it might negatively affect the procedure.

“Though it is not the main reason why people should donate, donating gives one a chance to be tested for Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, which are the viruses that cause liver disease,” he said.

Mr Rakereng also emphasised the importance of knowing one’s blood group adding that donating was an opportunity to know it.

Knowing one’s blood group could be of assistance in cases of accidents or other emergencies as the process of assisting would not be delayed by having to run tests to establish the blood group.

The day’s activities included blood donation, tug of war, swimming for children, egg race and yoga.

An employee of FNBB, Mr Keontse Boitshepho said he was pleased with the number of people who turned up for the event.

In her closing remarks, FNBB Foundation manager Onkemetse Montsheki said the organisation  made a commitment in 2001 to set aside one per cent of its profits after tax annually for giving back to the community through their star volunteer programme or directly.

He said it was after that decision that the organisation introduced community service day.

“This year however, we decided to give away in a very special way, assisting NBTC to get more blood donors, an idea which was agreed upon by majority,” he said.

ENDS