SANBS #Iʳonstrong campaign seeks to boost iron intake

The South African National Blood Services (SANBS) announced that it will embark on a campaign to boost iron intake among donors. The campaign #Iʳonstrong was launched in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) and will run over three months.

The pilot, which runs from 18 February to 1 May 2019, will see SANBS offering blood donors in the province a one-month free supply of ferrous sulphate tablets (each 200mg containing 65 mg elemental iron) following a whole blood donation. Aimed at improving the health of South African donors, SANBS also hopes to increase the supply of high-quality blood to local medical facilities.

According to SANBS, South African donors generally and women from KwaZulu Natal, in particular, have low iron levels in their blood. Iron deficiency causes a myriad of health issues from extreme fatigue and exhaustion, frequent infections, pale skin, hair loss to unusual cravings like ice and starch.

READ: SANBS clarifies blood donations after exposure to malaria areas

“While it has not yet been established why donors in KZN have lower haemoglobin levels, what we do know is that the oral administration of ferrous sulphate tablets can very quickly restore the bodies iron stores,” said Dr Jackie Thomson, Medical Director at the SANBS.

A recent local study by the SANBS showed that women especially between the ages of 16 and 45 have a higher risk of decreased iron levels due to menstruation and the demands of pregnancy. Furthermore, regular blood donations can also contribute to lower haemoglobin levels as iron is depleted when the body loses and replaces blood. Recovery and replacement of iron is key to ensure the health of the donor as well as the donated blood,” said Dr Thomson.

The #Iʳonstrong campaign is in line with SANBS’ efforts to attract more female donors in KZN and elsewhere in the country. Lower iron levels are one of the most common reasons why individuals are often discouraged from donating blood.

“Our commitment to donor health and well-being is the primary driver of the campaign and provides SANBS a good platform to engage with the community and sensitise donors towards iron deficiency. The campaign also holds the potential to dramatically increase blood reserves while also improving the health of women,” added Dr Thomson.

READ: SANBS Journey of Blood

The SANBS is dependent on the goodwill and commitment of hundreds of thousands of blood donors who save the lives of people on a daily basis. While South African legislation prevents agencies like the SANBS paying for donations, “we regularly express our appreciation to those who donate blood through our corporate gifting programme,” explained Dr Thomson.

According to Dr Thomson, the #Iʳonstrong campaign is an innovative extension of the programme which we also trust will create awareness and advocate the use of iron supplements long after the campaign. Moreover, improving the general health of the donor community is critical to augmenting national blood stocks and has the potential to place South African blood supply on a permanently sustainable footing.

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