08 Nov 2021

Round Table Botswana has joined forces with Botswana National Blood Transfusion Centre and Cresta hotels to launch a nationwide blood donation campaign in an effort to address the country’s critical blood shortage.

The campaign dubbed ‘Blood Brothers’ was launched yesterday on Saturday at Cresta Lodge in Gaborone and would be rolled out to other parts of the country in the coming weeks. In an interview, Round Table Botswana chairperson, Mr Karabo Thupane said shortage of blood in the country remained a challenge and worsened by COVID-19.

According to statistics from Botswana National Blood Transfusion Centre, the centre fell too short from reaching its target of 45 000 units per annum, managing only 2 300 units. Mr Thupane said as such they found it fit as an organisation to embark on a nationwide blood donation campaign in response to the crisis.

“This blood is critical for women in maternity, surgeries, people in accidents and other patients and we are in need of all blood groups more especially blood group O as it is a universal donor,” he said.

Mr Thupane said the campaign would cover areas where Round Table  is present; areas such as Jwaneng, Orapa and Francistown. He added that their target was to get 100 units of blood at every campaign and urged the public to donate blood and save life.

The chief registered nurse, at  the centre, Ms Annah Mothuti expressed gratitude to Round Table Botswana for creating such an initiative. 

She said the country was in dire shortage of blood and campaign such as Blood Brothers would assist the country’s health care system.

“About 45 000 units of blood are needed annually, which means on monthly basis the country needs 3 750 units and despite the huge demand, Botswana National Blood Transfusion Centre could   only gather about 2 700 on average per month,” she explained. 

ENDS