SAVING LIVES
The Women in Surgery Botswana (WISBO) is embarking on a blood donation drive this week to assist during the Easter Holidays and bridge the dire shortage of blood in the country.
Founder of the initiative, Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon at Princess Marina Hospital, also Lecturer at University of Botswana School of Medicine, Dr Kefilwe Benjamin explains that the programme targets particularly health care workers and students so that they set an example for society to donate blood. However, the general public is also welcome to donate
.
The organisation has partnered with the National Blood Transfusion Centre, and will be setting up at Princess Marina parking lot.
Dr Benjamin says that as surgeons, they directly get affected when their patients end up losing their lives because of shortage of blood, hence they saw the need to do something.
Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Nyanga says that the blood situation in the country has improved as compared to in the past, but applauds the initiative.
“I am happy to inform you that the blood situation in the country is better than it was in the recent past. We thank all those who have heeded our calls to donate and save lives. We also thank our partners for having helped us recruit more donors,” he said.
Dr Benjamin runs the programme with her colleague, Dr Nkhabe Chinyepi, a General Surgeon at Princess Marina Hospital and also Lecturer at University of Botswana School of Medicine.
They have deliberately set the event towards the Easter Holidays since it is the time when there are many motor accidents and patients require blood and blood products.
WISBO aims at mentoring young women who are interested in pursuing a career in surgery and creating a gender balance within the society to show that women in surgery are also capable. Through their slogan, ‘Come donate blood, it could be you who needs blood in the future’, they encourage people to come in large numbers to save lives.
Founder of the initiative, Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon at Princess Marina Hospital, also Lecturer at University of Botswana School of Medicine, Dr Kefilwe Benjamin explains that the programme targets particularly health care workers and students so that they set an example for society to donate blood. However, the general public is also welcome to donate
.
The organisation has partnered with the National Blood Transfusion Centre, and will be setting up at Princess Marina parking lot.
Dr Benjamin says that as surgeons, they directly get affected when their patients end up losing their lives because of shortage of blood, hence they saw the need to do something.
Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Nyanga says that the blood situation in the country has improved as compared to in the past, but applauds the initiative.
“I am happy to inform you that the blood situation in the country is better than it was in the recent past. We thank all those who have heeded our calls to donate and save lives. We also thank our partners for having helped us recruit more donors,” he said.
Dr Benjamin runs the programme with her colleague, Dr Nkhabe Chinyepi, a General Surgeon at Princess Marina Hospital and also Lecturer at University of Botswana School of Medicine.
They have deliberately set the event towards the Easter Holidays since it is the time when there are many motor accidents and patients require blood and blood products.
WISBO aims at mentoring young women who are interested in pursuing a career in surgery and creating a gender balance within the society to show that women in surgery are also capable. Through their slogan, ‘Come donate blood, it could be you who needs blood in the future’, they encourage people to come in large numbers to save lives.
