World Blood Donor Day commemorated

MPHO TLALE
Correspondent | Tuesday June 15, 2010 00:00

Health Minister John Seakgosing revealed that 60 percent of blood collected in Botswana comes from secondary school students.  He said the need for blood is increasing in all parts of the world and it is young people who can make an impact by donating blood as well as encouraging others to do the same.

He however gave credit to initiatives such as Pledge 25 and media campaigns that have seen the youth bring 'new blood to the world'. This year's theme for the commemoration is 'New Blood for the World' and focuses on young donors.

Seakgosing explained that although every year millions of lives are saved by blood transfusion in many countries Botswana included, people still die due to an inadequate supply of blood and blood products. This has an impact particularly on women as a result of pregnancy complications, children in relation to cases of anaemia, HIV and other medical conditions. This indicates that there is need for a more adequate supply of blood. Seakgosing therefore encouraged countries to improve their efforts to increase the number of regular donors so as to maintain a stable pool of donors who will meet the country's requirements for safe blood at all times, including emergency situations.

He stated that this can be achieved through development of strategies for the identification of donor populations at low risk for transmissible infections and for the promotion of their recruitment and retention. Blood Donor Day was established to celebrate and acknowledge blood donors for their contribution in donating blood.

It also aims at raising global awareness of the need for safe and adequate blood and blood products for transfusion and of the important contribution voluntary unpaid blood donors make to the health system. Botswana has seen an improvement in the selection and screening process that resulted in a reduction of HIV prevalence in donated blood from 7.7% in 2003 to 1.48% in 2009. Hepatitis B has also dropped from 2.9% in 2003 t0 1.4% in 2009,  while the overall discard rate has dropped from 11.8% in 2003 to 3.2% in 2009.