IT appears that November is going to prove to be a testing month, not just for pupils and students writing their matric and other end-of-year examinations, but also for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), which is experiencing a critical shortage of blood because of the lack of blood drives it can hold at schools and universities.
Silungile Mlambo, national marketing manager for the SANBS, said there is a critical shortage of blood across the country, with blood stocks at just 1.5 days of group O stock, equating to 1 473 units as of 1 November.
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Mlambo said the situation in KwaZulu-Natal is particularly acute, with less than one day’s supply of blood available. The blood supply in the province is currently at 0.7 days of stock (129 units), compared with a healthy blood stock for KZN of 500 units.
“The blood stock in the country is dangerously low. The blood supply is currently at less than 1.5 group O stock, compared with a healthy blood stock of 3 000 units or five days’ supply. The situation has in fact reached a critical level in KwaZulu-Natal and we appeal to all South Africans, active donors, lapsed donors and potential donors, to go to their local donor centre and donate blood to bolster the national blood stock,” said Mlambo.
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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,” says Mlambo.
To locate your nearest SANBS donor centre, visit sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31.
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