The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) celebrates the dedication of its blood donors this June and reminds the public that, as the population grows and access to healthcare improves, the demand for blood supplies to keep people alive in medical emergencies is constantly increasing.
Launching South African Blood Donor Month in Johannesburg on June 2, Ravi Reddy, SANBS chief operations officer, highlighted the challenge for the year.
“Our target for 2015 is 815 509 units of blood.
“We will only achieve this if many of our present donors are able to increase the number of donations they make and if members of the public come forward to replace donors who have given generously over the years but can no longer do so.”
South Africa is one of only 62 countries worldwide where the entire blood supply is donated free of charge by volunteers.
Every year, on June 14, the country joins with others across the globe to mark World Blood Donor Day and expands this event into a month-long campaign to highlight the critical importance of blood donation.
“No health system can do its job without a dependable supply of safe blood,” Reddy said.
“It is nothing short of a miracle that this vital aspect of healthcare is in the hands of volunteers and that they never fail us.
“Many of us do not appreciate the sheer range of situations in which blood plays a life-or-death role.
“These include everyday occurrences such as child birth and non-emergency surgery, as well as rare blood diseases, cancer treatment and major trauma.
“Any one of us could find that we owe our life to the generosity of a stranger who gives the gift of blood.”
Blood donors must be free of blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis B, to protect patients from infection.
The sheer size of the HIV epidemic in South Africa raised doubts some years ago that SANBS would be able to maintain infection-free blood supplies and, at the same time, keep pace with the demand for blood.
Reddy said: “We are very proud to say that South Africa has met this challenge.
“We have diversified our blood donor base and we do not distinguish on the grounds of race, sexual orientation or place of residence.
“Through better communication with prospective donors and by embracing ultra-sensitive testing technology to detect HIV infection, we have had not a single reported case of transfusion-acquired HIV in the last nine years.”
Donate blood at the Germiston Donor Centre at the Lambton Court Shopping Centre, situated on the corner of Webber and Beacon roads, Lambton.
The centre is open on a Monday from 1pm to 4.20pm; on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm; on a Thursday from 8.30am to 6pm and on a Saturday from 8.30am to 2pm.
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