Blood sought to prevent maternal deaths
Severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth is a major cause of death, illness and long-term disability.
The South African National Blood Service will celebrate women for their courage and resilience during August.
The celebration is line with August, which is Women’s Month in South Africa.
The SANBS knows the challenges faced by many women when they experience gynaecological and other childbirth complications.
“We hear the pain from mothers and wives who are often helpless when their loved ones are in hospital awaiting blood transfusions. We hope that with the help of the public, we are able to make a small difference in their lives,” said Ms Vanessa Raju, the communications manager of the SANBS. She said at the SANBS they work hard at ensuring there is always adequate, safe blood available but it is only possible with the help of blood donors. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the death of women from childbirth complications continues to be a serious global health challenge. Presently, approximately 800 women die needlessly from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications daily.
Severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth is a major cause of death, illness and long-term disability.
“Blood transfusion has been identified as one of the nine, key life-saving interventions for the management of pregnancy-related complications.
Approximately 26 percent of donated blood that the SANBS collects is used for childbirth and gynaecological cases,” said Ms Raju.
The minimum requirements in order to donate blood are that the donor must be between 16 and 65, weigh 50 kilogrammes or more, be in good health and lead a sexually safe lifestyle. @JoziReporter
