This month, the South African National Blood Service wants to show its full support for the Organ Donor Foundation in its endeavour to educate the public about blood donations. Along with being a blood donor, SANBS encourages healthy donors to consider becoming an organ donor too. Donors can pledge to donate their organs – liver, pancreas, kidneys and lungs – and other tissue, including corneas, skin, bone and heart valves. These donations help save thousands of lives each year.
At present, about 4 300 South Africans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Latest figures on organ donation show that 335 of the 566 solid organ transplants conducted in 2013 were related to the kidneys. In that year, 231 adults, adolescents and children also had the miracle of sight restored through cornea transplants.
Organ donation is one of the causes and collaborations that the SANBS pursues, because very few surgical transplant-related procedures can happen without an adequate blood supply. The SANBS spokesperson, Vanessa Raju said to ensure these important procedures go ahead smoothly, blood stocks must always be in surplus.
“For that to happen, we need committed donors of all blood types to honour their regular donation dates,” she said. Blood collected by the SANBS also supports the many people suffering from various blood-related diseases such as aplastic anaemia who need blood regularly in order to live relatively healthy lives. Blood is also frequently needed to support women during childbirth as complications can cause excessive bleeding.
“The donation of human tissue of any kind is unlike other acts of volunteerism and should not be taken lightly. That’s why the SANBS respects and appreciates every donor who walks into one of our donor centres,” said Vanessa.
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