The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is starting a blood collection drive on March 21.
The SANBS is looking to recruit new donors to ensure there is enough blood available in the country ahead of the busy Easter holidays.
Also read: SANBS faces drought of its own: a lack of blood
The drive, which is called the #NewBlood campaign, is looking to collect 4 500 units of blood on Human Right’s Day, which signals the start of the Easter holidays.
“Holidays are, unfortunately, the time when we traditionally run short of blood because we are not able to host our regular drives at schools and university campuses,” says Silungile Mlambo, the chief marketing officer for the SANBS.
“Currently, fewer than one per cent of South Africans donate blood even though it demands little more than giving up 30 minutes of their time at least twice a year,” says Mlambo.
Also read: WATCH: SANBS Journey of Blood
To donate blood, you have to be over 16 years old, weigh more than 50 kilograms and practise a safe lifestyle.
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