Maternity-related complications account for the largest share of blood usage in Namibia, underscoring the urgent need for more regular blood donors.
The Namibia Blood Transfusion Service revealed this during a Donor Recognition Awards ceremony held recently in Swakopmund, where the Erongo Region was recognised for contributing 18 percent of the country's national blood reserves.
According to NamBTS Chief Executive Officer Israel Chipare, the country is experiencing a rapidly rising clinical demand for blood, driven by an escalating disease burden that continues to place immense pressure on blood supplies.
"Maternity and gynaecological conditions consume the largest share, taking up 24%, so our mothers who are in hospitals, giving birth, bleeding during delivery and with other related conditions use around 24%. So when we have a shortage of blood, we are putting these mothers at risk, and oncological cases, these are cancer cases, closely follow, utilising 16%, so in Namibia those two are the leading consumers of blood."
To help meet the growing demand, Chipare says NamBTS has deployed a second blood collection team and invested additional resources in the Erongo Region to make blood donation more accessible.
"Our clear target to boost is to boost the coastal regions' contribution to the national blood supply by increasing your current contribution from 18 to 25%, and we believe it is doable. We cannot achieve this milestone alone, we need you to be our strategic ambassadors."
Swakopmund Mayor, Suamma Kautondokwa, also called on businesses across the Erongo Region to partner with NamBTS by hosting workplace blood donation drives, saying corporate support can help save lives while promoting a culture of social responsibility.
"Businesses are uniquely positioned to make a meaningful contribution to these life-saving causes by partnering with NamBTS and hosting blood donation drives at your workplaces; you create convenient opportunities for employees to become donors while achieving a culture of social responsibility and community care. Corporate participation not only saves lives but also demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of employees, customers and the communities you serve."