SANBS urgently needs blood donors to step forward
Stocks are sitting at less than three days' supply which is a crisis for patients that may need the life-saving treatment.
It takes less than 30 minutes to donate blood, but the impact each unit donated has on the three lives it may save lasts a lifetime.
It is not uncommon for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) to call for urgent donations, yet few people heed the call.
“It may be because people do not realise the importance of donating blood as they have luckily never been in a position to need it. Many people are also scared to give blood, so they don’t come,” said Kgomotso Marokoane, SANBS clinic manager.
The SANBS encourages men and women between the ages of 16 and 75, who lead a healthy lifestyle and consider their blood safe for donation to please donate.
This journalist witnessed the process with two colleagues who were donating blood to learn more about what the experience is like.
Mirriam Mpshe said she ‘donates often and has been doing so since 1998’. Next to her was Dineo Motlalehi, she expressed her ‘fear of needles but the process is quick and not at all painful’.
The process did not look painful nor uncomfortable as they laid back on the beds and chatted animatedly about the impact their blood might have on someone who needs it. Marokoane explained how just one unit of blood can save three lives.
Kinds of donations that can be made:
- Whole blood donations: A unit of blood can be processed into three components namely red cells, platelets and plasma which can save three lives and takes about 30 minutes.
- Platelet donations: Platelets play a vital role in blood clotting and the prevention of excess blood loss. The blood is processed through a cell separator, which retains the platelets and returns the other blood components to the donor’s system. This procedure enables people to donate platelets every month. Platelet donation is a simple process that takes about an hour and a half to complete.
These elements are critical for the many conditions people suffer from that require emergency intervention. Some of the more common are car crash victims, mothers who have haemorrhaged during childbirth, cancer patients and even elective surgeries that experience complications. Mpshe and Motlalehi were out the door in 20 minutes and looked forward to eating the biscuit they had received when they got back to their desks.
- Plasma donations: Plasma donation is a similar process to platelet donation and takes about 90 minutes. The blood is processed through a cell-separating machine that filters out the plasma and returns the red cells and other cellular components to the donor’s system.
- Please call 011 761 9000 to find your nearest location or to ask any questions.
Alternatively, if you would like to host a blood drive, all the details can be found at www.sanbs.org.za/blood-drives.
Fourways has a multi-disciplinary donor centre base at 11 Sunset Avenue in Sandton which is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00, and over the weekend from 08:00 to 14:00.
Other SANBS walk-in centres:
- Colony Shopping Centre, 349 Jan Smuts Avenue
- Craighall Linksfield Donor Centre, 110 Linksfield Road, Linksfield
- Beacon Road Multi-Disciplinary Donor Centre, 31 Beacon Rd, Roodepoort
- Fourways Donor Centre, 11 Sunset Avenue, Sandton
- Greenstone Donor Centre, Cnr Modderfontein Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue, Modderfontein
- Northgate Donor Centre, Shop No 609, Corner Olievenhout and Northumberland Avenues
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