The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) urgently calls upon all donors to respond, as the organisation’s supply is at critical levels after the recent Easter weekend.
The blood stock is critically low; sitting at below three day’s worth of units, far less than the required five day’s worth to meet the country’s needs.
The demand for blood often increases during holidays, with collection slowing down because places such as schools, where the SANBS collects the most blood, are closed.
The SANBS urges everyone who is eligible to donate blood to spare 30 minutes of their time to give the gift of life by visiting their nearest donor site or a mobile blood drive.
There has been a significant decrease in the number of donors giving blood regularly at centres such as the Kroonstad Donor Centre. This has an impact on blood collections and the SANBS’s ability to help save thousands of lives.
Blood stocks are under severe pressure when regular donors do not donate blood as frequently, and if there are not sufficient new donors enrolling to supplement these figures.
The SANBS would like to call upon the youth of South Africa, all those 16 years and older, to register to become blood donors.
The SANBS encourages the community of Kroonstad to donate blood at the Kroonstad Donor Centre, North Road Checkers Centre, on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00.
To become a blood donor, you must:
- be between the ages of 16 and 75 years;
- weigh 50 kg or more;
- be in good health;
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient; and
- commit to donating blood on a regular basis.
If you meet these requirements, find your nearest donation site by dialling 080-011-9031, visiting the SANBS website, or following the SANBS’s social media profiles on Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).
