Blood shortage for KZN over December
The KZN region has planned various special blood drive promotions over the festive season and into January 2017.
THE dwindling number of blood donors has resulted in the critical decline in the levels of life-saving blood stock with KZN said to have up to two days’ stock of blood left. According to Sifiso Khoza, regional marketing manager. of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), December was a tough month for the organisation.
“Traditionally December is a difficult time for the SANBS, as we are unable to collect the 3 000 units of blood a day that is needed to treat patients. The greatest needs for blood are for patients who are terminally ill and rely on daily, if not weekly transfusions for their survival. Accidents, scheduled operations and paediatric cases are the other cases where blood is needed desperately too.
“We want to encourage the public to find 30 minutes this holiday period to donate blood. The KZN region has planned various special blood drive promotions over the festive season and into January 2017 with extended hours and additional weekend blood drives. The idea is to remain on people’s minds and to be accessible, convenient and visible,” Khoza said.
The SANBS have various mobile clinics at shopping centres around the province and will be at Gateway Theatre of Shopping till 15 January.
