SANBS donor celebrates 400th life-saving donation
Now, after reaching his 400th SANBS donation, Allers Oltman is encouraging others to become life-savers too.
At 64 years old, Allers Oltman reached an extraordinary milestone when he made his 400th blood donation through the SA National Blood Service (SANBS) in Westwood Mall on Tuesday.
Despite donating for more than four decades, Oltman says he has no plans to stop. The Durban resident began donating blood in 1984 and has dedicated much of his life to helping save others. His only break came in 2004, when a dog bite required him to undergo a full rabies vaccination programme, preventing him from donating for 12 months. After completing his treatment, he resumed donating, this time as a platelet donor.
“I could not donate for 12 months because I was put on a rabies programme. During that time, I received eight rabies injections. Once the treatment was completed, I was able to start donating again,” Oltman said.
For Oltman, the motivation has always been simple, helping others.
“I do it to help other people. Over the years, I’ve seen how people are injured and how lives can be lost because of a shortage of blood. Blood is life. If you don’t have blood, your body can’t survive. That’s what motivates me to keep donating,” he said.
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SANBS supervisor Lalitha Baichan congratulated Oltman on reaching his 400th donation milestone and praised his long-standing commitment to saving lives. She also encouraged more South Africans to become blood and platelet donors, assuring the public that the donation process is safe.
“The only side effect some platelet donors may experience is a slight tingling sensation around the lips or fingers. This happens because the anticoagulant used during the procedure temporarily binds with calcium in the body. We simply give donors calcium, which quickly relieves the symptoms,” Baichan explained.
She added that the amount of blood or platelets collected is carefully calculated for every donor.
“The machine uses the donor’s height, weight and other information to calculate their total blood volume. From that, we only collect about 15%, ensuring the donation is safe for every individual.”
As Oltman celebrates his 400th donation, his remarkable journey serves as a reminder of the life-saving impact of regular blood and platelet donation. His commitment has given hope to countless patients and stands as an inspiration for others to become donors.
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