SANBS reminds of malaria donation guidelines
Were you in a malaria endemic area during the holidays?
HOLIDAY suitcases have been unpacked and South Africans are settling into the new year with some having already visited a nearby donor centre to make their first donation for 2017. However, SANBS has warned that travels to malaria endemic areas over the holidays could affect an individual’s ability to donate blood for several weeks.
The life-threatening disease is endemic to some parts of South Africa like North KZN and the Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga. Neighbouring high-risk countries include Swaziland and Mozambique which are popular holiday destinations.
According to the World Health Organization, Sub-Saharan African countries accounted for 90 per cent and 92 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths respectively in 2015. In South Africa 10 000 cases of malaria are detected annually.
Malaria is among the infectious diseases that SANBS prioritises in the screening process as it is transmitted from infected individuals through blood transfusions and infected needles. The outcome for those infected can be deadly therefore SANBS has adopted stringent procedures to curb its transmission.
The organisation conducts comprehensive interviews to obtain information from donors thus reducing the risk of malaria-infected blood passing through the system.
These interviews form part of an integrated screening process which includes extensive laboratory testing of blood to prevent the transmission of malaria and other infectious diseases commonly found in South Africa, such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C and syphilis.
SANBS Marketing Manager, Silungile Mlambo, emphasized the importance of donors answering the self-exclusion questionnaire accurately.
“We encourage donors to give us as much information as possible when answering the self-exclusion questionnaire as this is the first step in the blood collection process that enables us to safeguard the nation’s blood supply to the best of our ability,” she said.
Malaria-related exclusion criteria:
· Donors who have contracted malaria can donate three years after completing treatment.
· Donors who travel to high-risk areas can give blood four weeks after their return from a malaria area if they have not experienced any symptoms commonly associated with malaria such as fever, sweating and headache.
The guidelines are slightly different for donors who grew up in malaria areas outside South Africa and now live in the country.
“SANBS understands that our various processes can sometimes be difficult to understand and remember. Therefore we urge all existing and potential donors to always seek information and advice from our donor centres and other channels including the toll-free number and the website,” said Mlambo.
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