A blood drive was held at the Daveyton Mall on Friday, December 21.
With the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) low on blood stock over the festive period, eligible donors in the community were urged to show up in their numbers to support the cause.
Highlighting the plight of those who may need blood donations the most, (cancer patients, women giving birth and an individual undergoing open heart surgery) the SANBS said the risk for such patients, especially over the Christmas long weekend, was high.
“Our national blood supply is currently at just 2.1 days’ Group O stock, amounting to just over 1 958 units of O blood available around the country,” says Sifiso Khoza, regional marketing manager for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).
“The situation, simply, is critical.
“We need South Africans, active donors, lapsed donors and potential donors to stand together right now to bolster the national blood stock.”
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Khoza pointed out that incidents of trauma make up only a fraction of the demand for blood.
“While we need sufficient blood stock to cope with periods such as the December holidays, by far the greatest proportion of blood is required in other situations, such as in childbirth and for cancer patients.”
“So many people in life-threatening situations require blood.
“It’s what saves that haemorrhaging mother’s life, so that she can raise and love the baby she has just brought into the world.
“It’s what saves someone suffering complications during major surgery.
“It’s what helps that cancer patient endure and survive treatment.
“And that’s the point.
“It’s not just blood; it’s saving people’s lives through a simple easy donation.
“The SANBS is therefore making an earnest appeal for South Africans to step forward and make a donation of blood today.
“More than that, however, the SANBS appeals to South Africans 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.”
How to find the nearest donor centre?
Phone 0800 11 9031 | www.sanbs.org.za | Facebook.com/SANBS | Twitter @theSANBS |
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