While the Western Cape battles a severe drought, the rest of the country is currently facing a scarcity of a different kind – a critical lack of blood.
According to the South African National Blood Service, blood supply has gone down to just 1.5 days of Group O stock.
The blood service is calling on all blood donors to come forward and donate blood urgently to help cancer sufferers, people in life threatening situations and others who rely on blood transfusions.
National marketing manager for the service, Silungile Mlambo said, “The blood stock is dangerously low. The blood supply is currently at just 1.5 days Group O stock, amounting to less than 1 500 units of Group O blood available around the country.”
Mlambo said a healthy blood stock is 5 000 units of Group O blood a day, leaving the service in a critical situation.
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“We are appealing to South Africans – active donors, lapsed donors and potential donors – to stand together right now to bolster the national blood stock, and we thank them, in advance, for pulling together.
“So many people in life-threatening situations require blood. It’s what saves a hemorrhaging mother’s life so that she can raise and love the baby she has just brought into the world. It’s what saves someone suffering complications during major surgery. It’s what helps cancer patients endure and survive treatment.”
The service encourages people to become regular donors. By donating blood just four times a year, situations like this can easily be avoided.
Details: 080 011 9031; www.sanbs.org.za
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