Don’t forget to donate blood this Easter, urges SANBS
SANBS is appealing to donors to visit their closest donor centre as the blood stocks are low.
WITH with the looming Easter long weekend, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is bracing itself to deal with a increased demand for blood and appealed to the public to donate blood.
SANBS is already in a difficult situation and has been consistently recording low collections for over six months and the pressure is mounting.
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“The Easter long weekend is synonymous with high rates of road accidents and while we hope for the best, we anticipate that this year will be no different,” said SANBS’s Thandi Mosupye.
“We have, unfortunately, struggled to reach the minimum required levels of blood stocks for several months. The Easter weekend finds us at a time when blood collection is already difficult,” she added.
SANBS appealed to donors to make their way to their closest mobile blood drive or donor centre to give much-needed blood.
“Unfortunately when the holidays arrive, the demand for blood does not decrease. We still need to collect at least 3 500 units of blood daily to adequately meet patients’ daily needs. For every day that we are unable to achieve this target, our total units of available blood keep depleting,” she added.
If you are in good health and between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50kg, and lead a sexually safe lifestyle, make your way to your nearest donor centre.
To find out where your nearest donor centre is visit www.sanbs.org.za or call toll free on 0800 11 9031.
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