SANBS calls for donations amid dwindling stocks
A single blood donation could save up to three lives.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is facing severe blood stock
shortages. Current weather conditions and a higher-than-usual demand for blood have
sent blood stocks plummeting.
The Blood Service needs to collect 3,500 units of blood a day and is urgently appealing to all potential and existing blood donors who are due to donate, to visit a SANBS
blood donation site, to donate their precious unit of blood.
“With little blood available on hand, this will have a severe impact on the patients
who rely on life-saving blood transfusions,” said Thandi Mosupye, SANBS senior
manager of marketing, communication and brand.
“Whenever our blood stocks reach below three days, it places patients’ lives at risk.
The lives of haemorrhaging mothers, newborn babies, accident victims, and thousands
of other patients needing a blood transfusion,” Mosupye added.
Each blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones. Another Christmas to remember, another summer holiday at the beach, another birthday celebration.
The SANBS has declared June as National Blood Donor Month in honour and celebration of all the people behind the blood who makes saving thousands of lives possible daily.
In June, the SANBS would like to thank and acknowledge all blood donors and stakeholders for their continued support and commitment towards saving lives.
Every year, on 14 June, the world celebrates World Blood Donor Day.
The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2023 is “Give Blood, Plasma, Share Life, Share Often”.
SANBS will host a special World Blood Donor Day event in Parys in collaboration
with Overvaal Stereo on Thursday, 13 June. The community of Parys is invited to
donate blood at the Reformed Church on the corner of Loop and Paulsen Street from
13:00 to 19:00.
To become a blood donor, you must:
* Be between the ages of 16 and 75 years
* Weigh 50 kg or more
* Be in good health
* Lead a healthy lifestyle
* Consider your blood safe for transfusion
to a patient
* Commit to donating blood regularly
About the SANBS
The SANBS is an independent non-profit organisation and one of the leaders in the
discipline of blood transfusion.
The SANBS operates in eight of nine provinces in South Africa (except the Western Cape, which is serviced by the Western Cape Blood Service). It also provides crucial support to countries in the SADC region.
The SANBS supplies over one million blood products annually and is rated among
the top blood services in the world.
The blood is processed into its constituent components; red blood cells, plasma and
platelets. Therefore, in principle, a single blood donation could save up to three lives.
