End-of-year exams leave blood stocks in parlous state
SANBS urges South Africans to donate blood as blood shortages has reached critical levels across the country.
NOVEMBER is proving to be a testing month – not just for learners and tertiary students writing their end-of-year examinations, but also for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), which is experiencing a critical shortage of blood.
Schools and universities hold regular blood drives and with exams in full swing, the blood bank said they are worried as they cannot get to the youngsters for some of their crucial blood supplies.
There is a critical shortage of blood across the country, with blood stocks at just 1.5 days of group O stock, equating to 1 473 units as of Wednesday, 1 November.
The situation in KwaZulu-Natal is particularly acute, with less than one day’s supply of blood available. The blood supply in the province is currently at 0.7 days of stock (129 units), compared with a healthy blood stock of 500 units.
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The Northern Cape only has 1.2 days of stock available and Gauteng only around 1.5 days. Blood stocks in the Free State and Northern Cape are currently at 1.7 days. It is considered a crisis when blood stocks dip below two days of stock available.
Silungile Mlambo, national marketing manager for the SANBS said the blood stock in the country is dangerously low. The blood supply is currently at less than 1.5 group O stock, compared with a healthy blood stock of 3 000 units or five days’ supply.
“The situation has in fact reached a critical level in KwaZulu-Natal and we appeal to all South Africans – active donors, lapsed donors and potential donors – to go to their local donor centre and donate blood to bolster the national blood stock,” Mlambo said.
Mlambo said blood is critical for cancer patients and women in childbirth – who constitute by far the greatest groups of people requiring blood transfusions.
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“So many people in life-threatening situations require blood. It’s what saves a haemorrhaging mother’s life, so that she can raise and love the baby she has just brought into the world. It’s what saves someone with complications during surgery. It’s what helps cancer patients endure and survive treatment.
“It’s not just blood; it’s saving people’s lives, through a simple, easy donation,” said Mlambo.
Mlambo said the SANBS appeals to South Africans to donate blood immediately and become regular donors, which means donating only four times a year to avoid situations like this one.
For more information about donating blood, potential donors can locate their nearest SANBS donor centre or visit sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31.
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