SANBS launches Blood Donor Month
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) celebrates the dedication of its blood donors this June.
This is to remind the public that, as the country’s population grows and access to healthcare improves, the demand for blood supplies to keep people alive in medical emergencies is constantly increasing.
South African Blood Donor Month was launched on Tuesday, June 2.
On June 4, every year, the world comes together to mark World Blood Donor Day,
This event expands into a month-long campaign to highlight the importance of blood donation.
South Africa is the only country of the 62 countries worldwide where the entire blood supply is donated free of charge by volunteers.
SANBS COO Ravi Reddy said their target for 2015 is 815 509 units of blood and the service will achieve this only if many of the present donors are able to increase the number of donations they make.
” If members of the public come forward to replace donors who have given generously over the years but can no longer do so,” Reddy explained.
“No health system can do its job without a dependable supply of safe blood.”
“It is nothing short of a miracle that this vital aspect of healthcare is in the hands of volunteers and that they never fail us,” he added.
To be a blood donor, you must be between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh a minimum of 50kg, be in good health, live a sexually safe lifestyle, be free of blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV/Aids and hepatitis B, to protect patients from infection.
“Winter is the period where there is a massive shortage of blood and we encourage the community to donate blood during this period,” said Terrance Pillay, public relations practitioner for Benoni SANBS.
To donate blood, you can visit the Northmead Blood Donor Centre at 42 Fourteenth Avenue, Northmead, or contact the centre on 011 425 4943.
