Blood donors honoured for saving lives

THE importance of the media in communicating the plight of the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) to the public was highlighted at the annual SANBS Media Breakfast recently.

Speaking at the event, Khulekani Zuma, donor relations practitioner, said it was an important day on the SANBS calendar as at this time of the year, the service desperately needed the media to get the word out that blood donation was needed. “Without a supply of blood during the festive season, lives will be lost,” he said.

Phelelani Mkhize, zone donor manager said SANBS had introduced a lot of programmes to improve blood donation but it was a sad fact that out of the 14 million people in KZN, there was a potential two million blood donors, but only one per cent actually do donate.

“We have a lot of work to do to encourage people to get on board as donors to provide blood for those in need. We need blood on a daily basis, and when we send out appeals saying we have 1.7 days’ stock, it means we really only have one and a half days’ supply,” he said.

Guest speaker, Hazel Mthembu, told how her nine-year-old daughter Neli was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of four. She said blood transfusions helped keep her alive.

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“Neli got very sick and was rushed to the Addington Children’s Clinic for observation. She was non-responsive and an emergency transfusion enabled her to wake up so further tests could be done. She received transfusions at Albert Luthuli during chemotherapy, which she depended on to function at that time. Today she is cancer free and we thank the donors and media for the huge role they played in her journey,” she said.

Janet Legemaate gave an update on her son, Matthew, who underwent a heart and bilateral lung transplant last year.

As a new born, he underwent surgery where he was given five units of blood, without which he wouldn’t have survived. He was put on permanent oxygen at the age of 13. Five open heart surgeries later, and after being on the Organ Donor list, Matthew finally underwent a transplant.

“During the 12 hour operation Matthew bled profusely and blood, plasma and platelets were taken through to him. Everyone who has donated blood has helped along the way and helped to save lives. We are so incredibly grateful. Organ donation is linked to blood donation as you cannot do a transplant without a supply of blood,” she said.

She encouraged more donors for SANBS as well as on the Organ Donor Registry.

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