2021-01-14 13:35:24 GMT2021-01-14 21:35:24(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
WINDHOEK, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) Namibian hospitals face shortages of blood supply needed in critical medical emergencies due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the Blood Transfusion Services of Namibia (NAMBTS) said Thursday.
On average, 150 units of blood are needed daily to meet medical needs countrywide, but only 100 units are being collected since March last year when COVID-19 was discovered in the southern African nation, NAMBTS spokesperson Titus Shivute said in an interview. Educational institutions contribute over 30 percent of total blood collections annually and the fact that we have been unable to host blood donation sessions at most institutions since March last year has negatively affected our bloodstock, he said.