‘Mantšali Phakoana
Tšireletso Makibinyane (34) of Nazareth Ha Molengoane was seven months pregnant with her first daughter in April 2023 when she learned that she had severe anaemia, a blood condition that develops when one does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
Makibinyane was devastated when a doctor at St Joseph’s Hospital in Roma said her haemoglobin was at eight, which would endanger both her and unborn baby’s lives during delivery.
She required 0-blood group type, the most commonly considered blood type used for transfusions when the blood type is known.
“The doctor told me I would need four donors to donate blood for me, even if they were not a match, only then will I get blood.
“I thought I was lucky because my husband, his sister and my two siblings were available to donate for me. But, because they were all not a match, I was told their blood would be used for other patients while another patient with a rare 0-blood type will also come to my rescue.
“It took us about two months before I could get a compatible donor. I was waiting for a call from the hospital hoping to hear from them telling me that I had a match. I had to leave the hospital without receiving blood. Until it was time to deliver,” Makibinyane recalled.
Makibinyane says waiting two months for a blood donor was devastating, especially because the doctor had told her that with her condition, it would be risky for her to deliver before receiving blood.
“I knew that the nurses had said they would let me know when I got a match, I also knew that they were aware of the time of my delivery, but when I started experiencing pains, I could figure it was time to deliver.
“I asked my husband to take me to the hospital where, upon arrival, we were told there was shortage of blood as I still had no match. At the time I was struggling to breath well. I could not move, walk or stand up straight.
“It took us an hour until one of the nurses shouted out my name. I figured a good Samaritan had come to my rescue. I was right, I was immediately taken to the maternity ward where I came back with my bouncing baby girl,” she adds.
To Makibinyane, volunteering to donate blood was something she never gave much thought to and she never imagined she would one day need blood transfusion from anyone. Her experience has inspired the Makibinyane family to voluntarily donate blood often.
She and her husband have now become advocates for blood donors to save more lives.
After becoming a father for the first time, Tšireletso’s husband, Moelase Makibinyane, felt overwhelmed and thanked the unknown donors for saving both her wife and daughter.
“Since that incident, I feel like everyone in Lesotho is part of my family. I donate blood, I help people in any way I can to make a change in their lives. I now believe if I give blood, I am doing it for everyone, not just myself.
“Because somebody showed up and donated, I have a wife and a daughter. All the words in the world would not be enough to thank donors with a good heart.
“When I first donated blood I was only doing it for my wife and daughter but since I have realised that it saves many lives, I have never stopped donating blood since then,” he adds with a voice filled with emotion.
A midwife, ‘Makananelo Mabothile, emphasises the importance of donating blood, not only for purposes of saving patients, but also for women during delivery.
She urged women to go through all their antennal care appointments in order for health professionals to detect possible problems at an early stage.
“When a woman becomes pregnant, in the first trimester a child consumes more iron from its mother, hence we give pregnant women iron and folic acid tablets. We can only do that if they do not miss their antenatal care appointments. Most women especially, in the remote areas, fail to see a doctor or a nurse until late in their pregnancy, thus putting their lives and that of their unborn babies at risks.
“Antenatal care is very crucial for every mother. That is the stage where we examine a mother and her unborn baby; they should receive proper health care. At this stage, we would be able to detect problems that could arise, such as anaemia.
“I want to urge people to give blood, it does not harm anyone. It makes our work easier and helps us save a life of a mother and children. Blood donation is not only critical for pregnant women but should always be.”
Mabothile says it is less known how important blood donations are for pregnant women, with more than one in six expectant mothers likely to need blood or blood derived products during pregnancy or childbirth.
If there are complications during pregnancy, blood could be vital to your family’s health. Some conditions where blood products are crucial, and at times life-saving, include bleeding, anaemia, haemolytic disease of the new born (HDN), immune platelet disorder among others, she explained.
According to the World Health Organisation, over the years, member states in the WHO African region have made a significant progress in establishing nationally coordinated blood transfusion services, policy frameworks and national standards for collecting, testing, processing, storing and distributing blood and blood products.
“This notable progress notwithstanding, only eight countries have blood services that are designed to always ensure the highest levels of quality and safety for patients and donors.
“Reliance on non-renumerated blood donors is still high, with 16 countries accounting for 80 percent of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation,” WHO reports.
Against this backdrop, the Lesotho Blood Transfusion Services (LBTS) is facing a blood shortage to sustain it though the Christmas holiday and New Year period.
LBTS principal laboratory technologist, Khotso Kalake says the ongoing blood shortage, mixed with the upcoming December holidays is a tough combination.
Kalake indicated that the institution would require about 1500 units of blood to sustain the most critical time festive where emergency cases and demand of blood increases.
However, he said the institution has already started initiatives to collect blood from health clinics and mining companies countrywide.
If not for the shortage of staff, he says, more teams would have been deployed in different public spaces like malls so that more donors could volunteer to donate blood.
“We do not have to work hard now during festive holidays, our blood bank should always have enough to save lives, hence we plead with people to donate blood. It is not only for women who are about to donate blood but also for other emergency health reasons.
“You can donate now and save a life in future. Blood can be kept for 35 days before being passed to the recipient.
“We need donors to prevent the blood supply from getting depleted. We need it so we do not get to a point where surgeries have to get cancelled. That is something we absolutely do not want to have happen. To ensure an adequate blood supply we need people to come out and donate blood,” he noted.
To stress the importance of donating blood and celebrating the donors, World Blood Day is commemorated on November 14, annually. This year’s blood donation campaign slogan was; “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often”- underlining the role every person can play by regularly giving the valuable gift of blood to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can always be available to patients in need.
Speaking at the blood donation exercise on October, 17 2023, WHO representative to Lesotho, Dr Richard Banda, noted that donation of blood is a demonstration of solidarity and collective action in the pursuit of a healthier world.
Banda said WHO recognises the critical importance of adequate and safe blood supply to support healthcare systems.
“Every day, countless lives are saved and improved thanks to the selfless donations of individuals.
“Basotho’s willingness to give a part of themselves, quite literally, to support those in need is truly commendable because when you donate blood, you are offering the gift of life to someone in need, someone you may never meet, but whose life you will forever impact.
“Our work however, is far from over. There are still a good number of Basotho in need of essential health services, including safe and sufficient blood,” Banda said.
He further stated that blood shortages persist, thus threatening the lives of countless individuals in critical need of transfusions due to accidents, surgeries, childbirth, and various medical conditions.
Banda called upon government, partners, and all stakeholders to mobilize support at district and national levels in strengthening and sustaining blood programs to promote regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donation.
The director general of health services, Dr ‘Nyane Letsie, also emphasised the need for people to donate blood at all times not only in times of need.
She further urged donors to donate for all lives and not only for their family members, since blood is supposed to be readily available throughout the year.
“Blood should always be available in health facilities for those in need so that in times of emergencies, patients do not have to wait for donations. “Blood donation is considered an essential service that is exempt from the ‘safer at home’ directive. Cancer, trauma, mothers delivering babies, babies born in critical conditions and patients undergoing surgeries still frequently require blood transfusions,” Dr Letsie pointed out.
