By Neo Kolane
The Lesotho Blood Transfusion Services (LBTS) says it is currently experiencing an acute shortage of blood, with the available quantity only meant for emergencies.
The LBTS blood bank manager ‘Maleqhoa Nyopa said this week in an interview with theReporter the number of blood donors has drastically declined leaving those requiring blood service in the disadvantage, thus risking their lives.
She said the blood bank is currently left with that donated by the next of kin for donation to their family members who are in dire need of the service.
She said that these donations are done at critical moments when a relative requires the service due to accidents, injuries and for mothers who give birth.
“The blood donated takes a week before the donor gets their results because mandatory testing includes screening for a number of transfusion-transmissible viruses: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), one and two hepatitis B virus (HBV) hepatitis C virus (HCV) as well as syphilis.
“The person who is to receive the blood needs to wait for two to three days before the service can be offered,” she said.
Nyopa said the setback of failing to collect sufficient blood from donors was compounded by an instruction from the ministry of education and training that imposed strict regulations on blood donation from the school learners. She said the students were among the biggest blood donors in the country.
Nyopa said since the year 2015 the blood transfusion services visited schools to urge for collection of blood for storage and distribution when needed.
She said some parents were dissatisfied that the learners were requested to donate blood without their consent, fearing for the risks.
“In 2018 we were given permission by the former principal secretary of the ministry of education and training who agreed that learners could donate blood. But those under the age of 16 were not allowed to donate blood. The number of learners who are aged over 16 in both secondary and high schools has declined considerably.
“In 2019 the blood donation came to a halt resulting in a shortage of supply to those requiring the service,” Nyopa said.
The LBTS normally collects 7000 blood pints per year and it aims to at least collect above 10, 0000 pints. Most of those who donate are teenagers, youth and the middle aged. Those who are to donate blood are to be aged between 18-65 years.
She urged that Basotho should” come forward and donate blood to enable the blood bank to reserve it for other patients who may require blood transfusion in order to save lives.
Approached to explain why blood donation is no longer done in schools, the principal secretary of basic education Lira Khama referred this publication to the minister of education ‘Mamookho Phiri. However, attempts to get hold of the minister drew a blank as her phone rang unanswered.
