Blood donations encouraged during lockdown

As an essential service within South Africa, the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) is appealing to donors from all blood groups to continue donating blood to prevent blood stocks running critically low during the lockdown period.

All of their donor centres will remain open with extended operating hours to accommodate social distancing measures.

Shopping mall donor centres remain accessible, and mobile drives will be set up at large grocery stores to accommodate more donors.

Appointments can be made directly with your nearest donor centre to avoid queuing at the donor centre.

The SANBS has taken precautionary measures to ensure that the people who utilise their facilities are protected.

Donors will be assessed at all entry points of their facilities and mobile sites.

They have also equipped all sites with additional antiseptic sprays and alcohol-based wipes.

“Our trained health-care practitioners operating in the field have been equipped with the necessary information to identify symptoms that may indicate Covid-19 infection, and should a donor not be feeling well, or exhibit any flu-like symptoms or signs of infection, they will not be permitted access to our facilities,” said Dr Jackie Thomson, SANBS medical director.

While travel to the various donor centres will be considered essential travel, their regular donor deferral periods will still apply.

Additionally, as precautionary measures and to ensure the safety of blood and blood products during this time, the following deferrals remain in effect:

• People who have travelled to affected countries outside of South Africa will be deferred for 21 days.

• People with confirmed cases of coronavirus infection will be deferred for 28 days from the date of complete clearance of symptoms, and

• People who have been in close contact with confirmed or probable coronavirus cases will be deferred for 21 days from the last date of contact.

Importantly, as is normal practice when donating blood, it is encouraged for donors to delay donation if they are exhibiting any flu-like symptoms or signs of infection until they are in good health.

The SANBS Donor Centre at Mall@Carnival can be contacted on 011 915 6686.

• The public is advised to call the coronavirus hotline on 0800 029 999 with any suspected cases of corona, or to report or obtain information relevant to the pandemic.

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