POLOKWANE – In support of Mandela Day on July 18, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) appeals to all South Africans to honour Madiba’s legacy and give the gift of life, which is blood.
SANBS public relations practitioner, Dottie Pinn says although SANBS currently collects over one million units of blood annually at its 87 fixed donor centres and through daily blood drives managed by 100 mobile teams, there are instances when they fall short of the 3 000 units of blood required to meet the daily demand and this greatly impacts on the lives of patients.
“Traditionally, blood reserves are low in July and as it is Mandela Day, we would like to inspire the public to choose blood donations as their continued act of kindness,” she says. Vanessa Raju, SANBS, national communications manager, says there is no better way to honour the life and spirit of a man who epitomised the value of life than to donate blood and save the lives of accident victims, mothers in labour, cancer patients and thousands others.
“Each unit of blood is separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma and depending on medical needs, these products are estimated to benefit three patients daily,” says Raju.
Patience Thusi is a primary school teacher whose life was saved as a result of receiving a blood transfusion.
Thusi has aplastic anaemia and receives regular blood transfusions to replenish her bloodstream, which is compromised due to consistent heavy bleeding. “I am always mindful of the gift of blood that circulates through my body, without the blood and platelets I would be gone by now,” says Thusi.
