Roll up your sleeves in support of Blood Donor Month
Mafela said they urgently need companies and organisations to host blood drives.
The local SANBS wishes for National Blood Donor Month, celebrated in June, is for more feet at its donor centre at the East Rand Mall.
Donor practitioner Peter Mafela highlighted the importance of community members to donate blood.
“Nobody can manufacture blood in a factory; it can only come from donors. The generosity of those willing to roll up their sleeve will help us give patients a second chance. One unit of blood can save up to three lives,” said Mafela.
He appealed to the community to make their way to the donor centre at the mall, as they struggling to get donors.
“We are struggling to recruit people and rely on our adverts and other marketing initiatives to get support.
“We will appreciate it if the community can assist us by donating blood. As the demand for blood gets higher, our target increases. This year it is 33 992 compared to last year’s 29 989 units,” said Mafela.
The blood donor centre at the East Rand Mall is open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 15:00 on weekends and public holidays.
Mafela said they urgently need companies and organisations to host blood drives.
“We are willing to visit the premises of potential blood drive hosts, as it enables us to educate people and encourage them to support it,” said Mafela.
Source plasma
Mafela also encouraged community members to donate source plasma at East Rand Mall.
“Plasma is the liquid part of your blood in which red cells, white cells and platelets are suspended. It carries these components throughout the body and makes up about 55% of your total blood volume.
“Clotting factors, antibodies and proteins in plasma can be isolated and concentrated into various essential medicinal products. These are used to treat people with rare, chronic diseases and disorders such as hemophilia, primary immunodeficiency, genetic lung diseases, severe burns, trauma and shock,” said Mafela.
He said SANBS need blood group A and AB donors aged between 18 and 65 to consider donating source plasma.
The SANBS Boksburg branch will celebrate World Donor Day on June 14 by holding mobile blood drives at Epiroc SA from 09:00 to 15:00 and Filter and House Solutions from 09:00 to 16:00.
There will also be a blood drive at Booyco Electronics on June 18, from 09:00 to 16:00.
Anybody interested in hosting a blood drive, may contact Mafela at 011 897 4906 or peter.mafela@sanbs.org.za
Also Read: Local schools hold blood drives for SANBS
Also Read: Good support for SANBS at Impala Park market
