LEARNERS of A Shipena Secondary School in Windhoek yesterday donated blood on the school premises, after the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia issued an urgent appeal for donors, saying that there is a shortage of all blood groups.

The school requested pupils in grades eight to 12, who are 16 years and older, to donate blood and 106 volunteered.

Johanna Benyamen, a grade 12 pupil, said she decided to donate blood because she wants to save lives.

"I saw a lot of people suffering in hospitals and who needed urgent blood. You never know, it might be one of your relatives who need blood one day. In addition, I have this person to save people's lives," she said.

Another pupil, Fastinus Kambinda, said he decided to donate blood because he heard there was shortage in the country.

"Many people are losing their lives due to lack of blood. As a learner I have decided to donate mine and save someone's life. It might be my mother or my sister's life one day," he said.

Last month Wendy Willemse, the clinic planner at the blood transfusion service, told The Namibian that the organisation had only enough blood in stock to last two days. To be on the safe side, they try to maintain enough stock for nine days.

The shortage of blood was exacerbated by the summer holidays, when most donors were away on vacation and more blood was needed for victims of road accidents