Malaria-infected blood top on list of SANBS’s definite no-nos

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has dedicated donors, but their ability to donate blood may be affected for many weeks on their return from malaria-endemic areas.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal and the Mpumalanga Lowveld are home to the life-threatening disease. According to the World Health Organisation, 90 per cent of global malaria cases and 92 per cent of deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, as many as 10 000 cases of malaria are detected annually.

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SANBS, a nonprofit organisation that gives patients safe, quality blood and other medical-related services, prioritises malaria as it can be transmitted through infected needles and blood transfusion. The service has incorporated stringent procedures to prevent transmission, as malaria infection can be deadly.

Marketing manager Silungile Mlambo stressed the importance of answering the self-exclusion questionnaire accurately when donating blood, “We encourage donors to give us as much information as possible when answering the self-exclusion questionnaire as this is the first step in the blood collection process that enables us to safeguard the nation’s blood supply to the best of our ability.”

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Malaria-related exclusion criteria:

• Donors who have contracted malaria can donate three years after completing medical treatment
• Donors who travel to high-risk areas can give blood four weeks after their return from a malaria area if they have not experienced any symptoms commonly associated with malaria such as fever, sweating and headache.
• For those originating from malaria-endemic areas outside South Africa, if the length of time they are absent from their country of origin is:
• More than three years and they have made no visits back to those areas, they will be permitted to donate if they meet all other criteria
• Less than three years and they have revisited the malaria area within the three years, they must wait for another three years before their next donation.

“We understand that our various processes can sometimes be difficult to understand and remember. Therefore, we urge all existing and potential donors to always seek information and advice from our donor centres and other channels, including the toll-free number and the website,” said Mlambo.

Details: 0800 11 9031, toll-free; www.sanbs.org.za