World Blood Donor Day commemorated
Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often
The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NamBTS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) join the global community to commemorate World Blood Donor Day today (14 June). The day focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their voluntary blood donations and strongly encourages more people all over the world, and in particular Namibia, to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.World Blood Donor Day was officially designated as an annual event by the World Health Assembly in 2005, and the commemoration provides a special opportunity to celebrate and thank voluntary blood donors around the world for their gift of blood and has become a major focus for action towards achieving universal access to safe blood transfusion.
The slogan for the 2023 World Blood Donor Day campaign is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often”. It focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play, by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can be always available, all over the world, so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment.
Life-saving gift
Every single blood or plasma donation is a precious lifesaving gift and regular voluntary unpaid donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable blood supply. Access to a secure blood supply based on voluntary, unpaid donation is vital for all patients including many requiring life-long and regular transfusions for conditions such as sickle-cell anaemia and thalassaemia.
Voluntary, unpaid plasma donations also play an important part in supporting patients with a wide range of long-term conditions such as haemophilia and immune deficiencies. Blood and blood products are essential resources for the effective management of women suffering from bleeding associated with pregnancy and childbirth; children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria and malnutrition; patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions; victims of trauma, emergencies, disasters and accidents; as well as patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.
The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not.
Blood shortages are particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries.
World Blood Donor Day is not just about creating awareness. It is also an opportunity to thank the 26 022 active donors in Namibia for their life-saving acts of solidarity.
Persons wanting to donate blood should be older than 16 years, weigh more than 50kg, lead a sexually safe lifestyle, and enjoy general good health. Donors are encouraged to eat a balanced meal within 3 – 4 hours of attending the clinic and feel healthy on the day of donation.
Donate here!
World Blood Donor Day blood donation clinics will take place on Wednesday, 14 June 2023:
• 35 Tal Street Centre, Ausspannplatz Windhoek (07h00-18h00)
• Channel Life Centre, 39 Post Street Mall Windhoek (08h30 – 16h00)
• Maerua Mall in front House and Home Windhoek (09h00-15h30)
• Namib Mills Windhoek (09h00 – 15h30)
• L. Lenza Institute (Oshakati) (09h00 – 14h30)
• Dunes Mall (Walvis Bay) (10h00 – 15h00)
This year NamBTS will host a street parade covering a distance of 2.2km along Independence Avenue on Friday, 16 June 2023. The procession will commence at 10h00 opposite the police station and end at the NAMBTS Head Office located at 35 Tal Street, Ausspannplatz. There will be further activities at the NAMBTS Headquarters in Windhoek to thank our donors and promote the community values of blood donation in enhancing community solidarity.