POLOKWANE – Very few people within the black community, especially in rural areas and townships, are enthusiastic about donating blood.
Sello Makhura (30) is a young man who finds satisfaction in educating people about donating blood. Makhura was born and bred in Lonsdale, Moletjie, a village outside the city.
He attended school at Bohlaloga Senior Secondary School. Like any other youngster from humble beginnings, he dreamt of living a well-off lifestyle upon registering and completing his studies as an engineering student with one of the top universities in the country. However, matters beyond his control paused his career path as there were family financial constraints.
“An opportunity to study nursing opened up and I grabbed it with both hands. I eventually completed my studies and worked as a registered nurse at Bela-Bela Hospital,” Makhura said.
Having to attend a rural school with no adequate and modern infrastructure to make learning and teaching conducive, Makhura admitted that while growing up, he lacked information and resources, but was fortunate to be able to make use of the little he had to realise dreams.
He furthered his studies at the University of Pretoria where, he said, he learned independence and to appreciate the little things in life. “To many people this might seem meaningless, but when one helps another human being, no matter how great or small one’s contribution is, one goes to bed feeling eternally happy,” Makhura explained.
In 2012, he started working at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) as a donor educator. One of Makhura’s duties is to visit various schools in the Polokwane region teaching learners about the need for blood, the benefits of donating blood and the reasons they should donate blood.
Makhura emphasised that if people didn’t donate blood, it could not be found anywhere else and people would die.
“One must find it within one’s heart to look for information on how to donate blood, share with other people and together save lives,” Makhura said.
He concluded by saying people could donate blood if they weighed 50kg or more, were 16 years and older and led a sexually safe lifestyle. He said he enjoyed his job, but it was challenging when learners didn’t cooperate at schools by listening to what he had to say, because of a lack of discipline.
