Health minister urges Basotho to donate blood

…amid critical shortages leading to preventable deaths

Seithati Motšoeneng

HEALTH Minister, Mamokete Ntšekhe, has sounded the alarm over Lesotho’s worsening blood shortage, warning that many lives are being lost because hospitals do not have enough blood for emergency transfusions.

Speaking during a blood donation drive held yesterday in the Ministry of Health auditorium, Ms Ntšekhe appealed to Basotho to embrace regular voluntary blood donations, describing it as a civic responsibility that could save countless lives.

She said the country’s health facilities, particularly Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital, faced a constant demand for blood to treat patients with a wide range of medical conditions.

“Many individuals involved in road accidents lose a substantial amount of blood and require immediate transfusions,” Ms Ntšekhe said.

“Patients suffering from illnesses that deplete their blood cells also depend on a steady supply of blood to survive. Women experiencing complications during childbirth often lose significant amounts of blood, placing them at risk of severe complications or even death.”

The minister said the country’s current reliance on relatives to donate blood during emergencies was unsustainable and called for a culture of routine voluntary donations.

“It is not viable for families to always have to donate blood for each other during emergencies. We need a culture of regular, voluntary blood donation,” she said.

Ms Ntšekhe encouraged Basotho to view blood donation as both a healthy and patriotic act, saying healthy donors not only help save lives but also benefit from routine health screening conducted before every donation.

“Donating blood while healthy benefits not only the recipients but also the donors themselves. It is a simple, safe and life-saving exercise that can make a difference in many lives,” she said.

She acknowledged that winter was traditionally associated with lower blood donations but stressed that the demand for blood did not decline with the seasons.

“Despite the season, the need for blood remains constant. We cannot afford to wait until emergencies arise to seek donations,” Ms Ntšekhe said.

The blood donation campaign, organised by the Ministry of Health, seeks to encourage Basotho to become regular voluntary donors in an effort to maintain adequate blood stocks throughout the year and reduce preventable deaths.

Meanwhile, blood bank laboratory scientist, Thapelo Sesoane, said the demand for blood had risen sharply as transfusions were now required for a growing number of medical conditions beyond trauma cases.

“Blood transfusion is no longer solely for accident victims. Even cancer patients require transfusions as part of their treatment,” Mr Sesoane said.

He added that the growing demand for blood was a global challenge, making regular voluntary donations more important than ever to ensure hospitals are able to respond to both routine and emergency medical needs.

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