You can help save some lives this Monday

Want to make a difference in the world? Just donate blood!
There are always people in need of blood, and you could help save their lives by becoming a blood donor.

Melomed Private Hospital is hosting a Blood Donor Drive on Monday, 1 April.

Conveniently located just off the N2, on the John Ross Parkway between Richards Bay and Empangeni, Melomed is the perfect venue for this event: making it easy for blood donors to quickly pop in and help save a few lives.

The Blood Donor Drive will be co-hosted by the South African National Blood Service.

It will run from 10 am to 3pm in the hospital’s first floor meeting room.

Minimum requirements

Blood donors have to be older than 16, but younger than 65. They have to at least weigh 50kg and be in good health. Obviously, your blood must be safe to be given to another patient. Donors also have to lead a sexually safe lifestyle.

One must never donate blood to receive a free HIV test as it places the lives of patients at risk. To know your HIV status and to receive proper treatment, potential donors should visit HIV testing centres to have themselves tested.

Becoming a donor is a simple process and the donation itself only takes about 30 minutes.

Donors are given a pamphlet to read, containing information on safe blood transfusion and risk behaviour.

Donors then complete a questionnaire to determine if it is safe for them to donate blood. A registered nurse will then discuss this questionnaire with the donor.

A blood pressure and iron level test is taken. Once the donor has ‘passed’ these tests, the blood transfusion begins.