South African National Blood Service celebrates World Blood Donor Day

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) extends an invitation to everyone in the country to observe World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

This year, SANBS hopes to encourage new donors to participate in this important act of service by celebrating the nation’s blood donors and their life-saving efforts through its ongoing and powerful #WeAreThePulse campaign.

World Blood Donor Day is a global event established by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts.

This year SANBS highlights the essential contribution blood donors make to keeping people, and communities healthy. It also serves as a call to action to more people to contribute to saving lives by donating blood regularly.

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“Thousands of South Africans need blood transfusions every year for continuing medical issues, emergencies, and medical procedures.

“World Blood Donor Day serves as a reminder of the tremendous influence that individual giving can have on the well-being and vitality of our society, serving as a light of hope and unification.

“We view this day as a strong call to action as well as a reason to celebrate. It exhorts everyone to come forward, offer a little of themselves, and join a network of heroes who save lives and keep the country going,” stated Thandi Mosupye, senior manager of marketing, communication, and brand at SANBS.

To commemorate World Blood Donor Day, SANBS has organised laboratory tours for learners at their offices in Mount Edgecombe in Durban and Constantia Kloof in Johannesburg.

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These laboratory tours will offer learners and selected donors an opportunity to learn more about the process and see first-hand how their contributions support their communities. Blood donation takes only 30 minutes, but each donation can save up to three lives.

For more information about World Blood Donor Day, or to find out how to become a blood donor, please visit www.sanbs.org.za or call SANBS at 0800 11 9031.

To be eligible to donate blood, one must be between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50kg and be in good health. If you meet these requirements, find your nearest donation site by contacting 0800 11 9031 or visiting the SANBS website.

Follow SANBS on its official social media platforms: Twitter (@theSANBS); Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).