Lesotho, through the Ministry of Police commemorated World Blood Donor Day under the theme ‘Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives’.
The event was held at Pitso Ground in the Maseru district.
Speaking at the commemoration, the Minister of Police, Mr. Lepota Sekola congratulated Commissioner of Police, Holomo Molibeli for organising an event to commemorate World Blood Donor Day.
He also thanked World Health Organisation (WHO) for always supporting the government of Lesotho in initiatives that ensure health services delivery.
He stressed that the police must help in saving lives as their slogan indicates, saying all police officers have done a great job in contributing toward saving lives regardless of their status.
The Minister of Health, Mr. Senamo Sekatle also thanked WHO and the Ministry of Police for commemorating this day.
Mr. Sekatle said the act of donating blood is a generous act as it saves more lives, adding that this day also provides an opportunity to call to action governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors, managing access to blood and the transfusion of those who require it.
Moreover, he said it is his hope the blood bank cannot be reported to be short of blood, adding that blood shortage is a crisis in the country as it leads to loss of life.
He said people die due to a shortage of blood in the country and appealed to Basotho to voluntary donate blood.
He stressed that it is the responsibility of everyone to donate blood so to keep the blood bank full to avoid the loss of many lives.
Also speaking, Dr Richard Banda, WHO Representative for Lesotho, congratulated the government of Lesotho, especially the Ministry of Police and Ministry of Health for its tireless efforts to protect and save the lives of Basotho.
Dr Banda said a group of community marks World Blood Donor Day to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, saying on this day they recognise the gift of life made possible by voluntary blood donors.
He said he agrees with this year’s slogan ‘donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives’, because it highlights the contribution that blood donors make to keep the world safe by saving lives, enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion.
He further said donating just one unit of blood can save the lives of up to three people but also helps people to live longer and live more productive lives.
He said WHO wants to join the call for more people to come forward and become regular voluntary donors, saying by becoming blood donors, one eases the pressure on the health system which is still struggling with the current burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There can no be a greater gift in life than the gift of life itself,” he said.
Dr Band noted that the world’s need for blood is universal but access to blood for everyone who needs it is not universal.
In conclusion, he urged the government of Lesotho and political leadership to prioritise the provision of adequate resources to secure the future of the Lesotho National Blood Transfusion Center, a blood service that gives patients access to enough safe blood is a key component to the health system.
World Blood Donor Day is annually commemorated on 14 June and was created to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion.
This day highlights the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems and support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations, and other non-governmental organizations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs by reinforcing national and local campaigns.
By Staff Reporter: Noliwe Velaphe