Blood bank needs donors to reach target

NEARING the halfway mark of collecting a targeted 520 pints of blood for its Mandela Month blood collection drive, the Richards Bay Blood Donor Centre is urging donors to spare 30 minutes of their time to help reach the target.

Partnering with Leapfrog Properties, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) hopes to use the last few days in July to achieve its mission.

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With some scheduled blood drives having been cancelled or postponed after the recent unrest in the country and the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic upon us, the blood bank is working hard to meet its collection goal.

The pockets of violence and instability have had a negative impact on mobile blood drives and donor centres.

With the rising Covid-19 infection rates, SANBS anticipates added pressure on blood stocks in the coming weeks.

Donor Relations Practitioner Dennis Ngongoma said the safety of donors is important, and he implored everyone willing to visit donor centres to exercise increased vigilance to ensure their own safety.

The Richards Bay blood donor centre in the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.

To be eligible to donate blood, one must:
* Be between the ages of 16 and 75 years
* Weigh 50kg or more
* Be in good health
* Lead a healthy lifestyle
* Consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient
* Commit to donating blood regularly.