According to Ravi Reddy, SA National Blood Service (SANBS) chief operations officer, traditionally December is a difficult time for them, with limited access to corporate blood drives and availability of donors impacting on the ability to collect the minimum of 3 500 units of blood a day that are needed to treat patients.
They are therefore urgently appealing to all potential and existing blood donors that are due to donate to visit a SANBS blood donation site to donate their precious unit of blood.
“Although the festive season is fun for most people, it is a difficult period for doctors who work hard to save lives, needing blood and blood products to do so,” Reddy said.
“We approach this season with low stocks and we know that we have some tough times ahead if donors do not respond to our call to lend a hand.”
The SANBS needs five days’ stock of Group O blood to sustain the country’s need, and are facing severe blood stock shortages, to the extent that there may not be sufficient available blood for patients in need over the festive season.
The SANBS’s inability to access venues for blood drives is also hampering meeting collection targets successfully. As a result, blood stocks continue to dwindle steadily.
“Our Group O blood stocks have dropped significantly and we are appealing to all South Africans to donate a unit of blood in aid of those in need of it,” added Reddy.
The SANBS is, furthermore, appealing to the public to make venues available for blood drives. Suitable venues include spaces accessible and open to the public.
“As we head into the busy holiday season, we are facing a particularly challenging situation,” he explained.
“All willing and eligible donors are urged to visit their nearest mobile and fixed donor centres.”
If you are able to host a blood drive, visit the SANBS website and book a blood drive.
For more information contact the call centre on 0800 11 9031 or visit our website on www.sanbs.org.za.
To find the closest donor branch visit sanbs.org.za
