SANBS marks 25 years of saving lives through blood donation
A commemorative event on 17 April will bring together health leaders to reflect on SANBS’ role in strengthening South Africa’s life-saving blood services.
For 25 years, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has quietly connected strangers through one powerful act of humanity: The decision to donate blood.
On April 17, the organisation will mark this 25-year milestone with a commemorative event bringing together key stakeholders. The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will deliver the keynote address, reflecting on the importance of collective action in building a healthcare system that serves all.
According to SANBS CEO Ravi Reddy, collaboration between SANBS, the Department of Health, and other key stakeholders has expanded access to life-saving blood services and strengthened the country’s healthcare response. Together, they have built not only a system, but a lifeline that millions of South Africans rely on.
He added that since its establishment in 2001, following the amalgamation of six previously independent regional blood services, SANBS has grown into a vital pillar of South Africa’s healthcare system, serving eight of the country’s nine provinces.
Reddy described the organisation as one built on scientific excellence, research, innovation, and an uncompromising commitment to safety and quality. He said it has developed into a globally respected institution responsible for ensuring a reliable and sustainable blood supply for millions of South Africans.
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He emphasised that the true significance of the service lies in the people behind it.
According to Reddy, the milestone refers to SANBS reaching 25 years of service, sustained by millions of South Africans who have donated blood, alongside healthcare workers who depend on every unit, the professionals ensuring its safety, and patients whose lives have been saved through transfusions.
“Every unit of blood carries hope. Every donor carries someone’s second chance,” he said.
Reflecting on the journey, Reddy said SANBS has been carried by the generosity of ordinary people doing something extraordinary, with every donation representing a story of kindness and hope. He emphasised that this 25-year milestone belongs collectively to donors, healthcare workers and patients.
As SANBS looks ahead, its focus remains on strengthening a culture of donation, building trust, and ensuring equitable access to safe blood and blood products across the country.
At its core, SANBS’ work reflects a simple but powerful truth: people choosing to save other people’s lives.
“For the past 25 years, that shared commitment has helped save lives across South Africa,” Reddy said.
