“Women’s Month is a great opportunity for us to remind donors that when they sacrifice their time to donate blood, they save mothers who could die within hours without an adequate blood supply to replenish blood lost in childbirth,” said SANBS communications manager, Vanessa Raju.
Each day, nearly 800 women die from pregnancy-related complications worldwide.
Currently 27 per cent of maternal deaths are the result of severe bleeding during labour.
“Most of maternal mortality is preventable and blood transfusions could mean the difference between life and death for many bleeding mothers,” said Raju.
To donate blood, you need to:
- weigh at least 50kg;
- be between the ages of 16 to 65;
- lead a safe sexual lifestyle;
- be in general good health; and
- consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient.
To donate blood, you can visit the Northmead Blood Donor Centre at 42 Fourteenth Avenue, Northmead, or contact the centre on 011 425 4943.
