Every drop counts: NamBTS celebrates World Blood Donor Day
The fusion of innovative technology with humanity and the respect for life has seen millions of lives transformed by advances made in medicine - particularly with life-saving blood.World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually on 14 June and this year, will be held under the theme: Give blood, give hope: Together we save lives.
NamBTS commemorated the day on Thursday, with various blood drives in the country as well as by honouring the 1.2% of the Namibian population that, by donating, ensure that Namibia’s blood supplies have never run dry.
NamBTS has been doing this for six decades and sustained a harmonious, giving and selfless community of humanitarians who repeatedly give of their own blood to help those affected by medical conditions that adversely affect their health.
Today, NamBTS has 242 clinics around the country from which blood reserves are sourced, mainly to the state hospitals (83%) with the rest saving lives at private hospitals and other medical centres. “We encourage those that are older than 16, weigh more than 50kgs, are sexually responsible and enjoy general good health to eat a balanced meal within 3 – 4 hours of attending the clinic to come through and give life to someone who will thrive as a result of their selfless gesture,” says marketing and donor relations manager Zita Tobin.
“It is how we have done it for 60 years and Namibia’s blood supply is revered for being one of the safest in the world. We wouldn’t have been able to maintain that without the synergy between the hearts of Namibians and the technology of the day. We look forward to this 21st World Blood Donor Day celebration and I know our donors will represent and do what they have always done - look out for each other.”
During a special ceremony, NamBTS also honoured those who have helped to maintain Namibia’s healthy blood supply for the duration of the company’s existence by partnering in various campaigns to grow Namibia’s donor population every year.