This frustration can easily be experienced by patients and their families, especially when there is a major crisis with the availability of blood for transfusions.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) aims to collect 3 000 units of safe blood per day, to ensure they meet the demand by the patients of South Africa. However, in the past two months, this was an almost impossible target to achieve and there were several instances of major shortages of blood in the country.
SANBS currently has a donor panel of 478 000 donors of which 390 000 are active donors, which is less than one percent of the country’s population. This shows the challenges that SANBS faces in ensuring that they constantly have safe blood available for those in need.
The greatest needs for blood are for patients who are terminally ill and rely on daily, if not weekly, transfusions for their survival as well as women who have complications at childbirth. Accidents, scheduled operations and pediatric cases are other cases where blood is needed desperately too.
As SANBS approaches the busiest period of the year, they ask you to spare a thought for the people who rely on your kind act and to please find 30 minutes to donate blood and know that you may be giving someone else a chance to look forward to next year.
To become a blood donor you need to:
• Be between the ages of 16 and 65
• Weigh more than 50kg
• Be in good health
• Consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient
• Lead a sexually safe lifestyle
