Help reduce blood shortage

On September 7 SANBS national marketing manager, Silungile Mlambo stated in a press release that South Africa’s blood stock is critically low.

“The blood supply [was] at just 1.5 days group O stock, amounting to less than 1 500 units of O blood available around the country,” he said.

Benoni based donor relations practitioner, Terrence Pillay said efforts over the weekend boosted the stock count to 2.3 days’ worth of blood, but he confirmed this is not enough.

“It should be around 4.5 days’ worth in stock,” he said.

The SANBS is particularly battling with blood type O donations.

Mlambo said a healthy blood stock is 5 000 units of O blood a day.

He is urging citizens to become regular donors.

“By donating blood only four times a year, we can easily avoid situations such as the one in which we find ourselves,” said Mlambo.

Benonians can donate blood at SANBS Benoni, 42 14th Avenue, Northmead.

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