JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is appealing to all South Africans to donate blood in honour of Mandela Day and to give recipients a second chance at life.
Annually the SANBS collects one million units of blood through 87 fixed donor sites and daily blood drives that are managed by 100 mobile teams. Each unit of blood is separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma and depending on medical needs, these products are estimated to benefit three patients daily. There are, however, still instances where there is a shortfall in the 3 000 units of blood required to meet the daily demand.
Traditionally blood reserves are low in July and as part of Mandela Day, the global philanthropic challenge, the SANBS would like to inspire the public to make a difference throughout the year by donating blood regularly.
“There is no better way to honour the life and spirit of a man who epitomised the precious value of life than to donate blood and save the lives of accident victims, mothers in labour, cancer patients and thousands others,” said SANBS national communications manager, Vanessa Raju.
Patience Thusi is a primary school teacher whose life is saved regularly through blood transfusions. Thusi has Aplastic Anaemia (AA), a condition in which the bone marrow does not make enough red blood cells requiring sufferers to undergo regular blood transfusions to replenish their bloodstream. “I am always mindful of the gift of blood that circulates through my body, without the blood and platelets I would be gone by now,” says Thusi.
The SANBS encourages South Africans to pump up their efforts and to donate blood at the Southdale Donor Centre on July 18 from 08:30 to 14:00. Entrance to the donor centre is through the east wing.
