The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is celebrating World Blood Donation Day (WBDD) during the whole month of June.
WBDD is celebrated worldwide on June 14, the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist that discovered the ABO blood group system.
The day was first celebrated in 2004 to help raise awareness for safe blood and blood products and to thank all those blood donations that save lives every day.
People like Martie Van der Walt, who at 72 years old had made over 117 blood donations, make it possible for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) to consistently deliver life-saving, safe blood to the nation.
Yearly in South Africa, we observe WBDD in June to drive the need for a stable supply of healthy and safe blood.
This month-long celebration serves as thanking and encouraging people to regularly donate blood.
In January 2021, Mosa Mphore, a donor kidney recipient, entered the last stage of rejection.
“My doctors decided to place me on plasmapheresis to stop my body from rejecting my kidney,” Mosa remembered.
Following an initial 10 rounds of plasma transfusions, Mosa is doing well.
“It was like a second transplant for me. The plasma helped to keep my kidney alive. I will forever be grateful,” Mosa expressed joyfully.
Thanks to donations made by members of the public thousands of people suffering from chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions are given a second chance at life.
Join the SANBS in thanking blood donors, this WBDD.
Thandi Mosupye, SANBS’ Senior Manager: Marketing and Communication, expressed the organisation’s gratitude by saying, “The best gift you can give anyone is the gift of life. We know that South Africans have huge hearts and we call on them to fully embrace the spirit of unity under this year’s World Blood Donor Day theme, ‘Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives”.
“SANBS applauds its regular donors, who ensure the target of 3 500 units per day is maintained. This Youth Month, we are appealing to young, healthy South Africans to also start donating blood and make it a lifestyle choice,” said Mosupye.
Visit www.sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31 to find out where you support blood drives throughout June or connect with them on Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).
