Blood stocks critical this Easter

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) are asking for donations to prepare for the Easter weekend, as they are currently operating on low reserves.

Blood plays a vital role in the health care system as many patients are counting on blood transfusions to assist them with a variety of medical issues.

“Each year we are faced with the terrible reality that we might not be able to meet the patients’ demands – a situation that we are faced with regularly over the holidays,” said Sifiso Khoza, SANBS marketing consultant.

Khoza said there was nothing more heartbreaking than doctors having to hold back on planned operations and tell patients, who are in need of blood transfusions for their survival, that there is not any blood available.

“We simply do not have enough people donating. Blood collections also drop significantly over the school and varsity holidays and this is mainly due to the fact that KZN is dependent on the youth to meet the demand for blood,” said Khoza.

He said they were hoping that more people would come on board and join their regular donors to help those in desperate need of blood.

Every unit of blood is vital and once tested and deemed safe for transfusion is separated into, red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Therefore a unit of blood can save up to three people’s lives.

Regular donors are able to donate blood every 56 days, donating three to four times a year.

People between the ages of 16 and 65 years, who weigh more than 50 kilograms, are in good health and live a sexually safe lifestyle are encouraged to become a blood donor.

People can donate blood when SANBS comes to Ballito Library every second Tuesday of every month, from 10 am to 6pm.

Businesses are also encouraged to host blood drives at their establishments.

For more information contact 0800 11 9031 or visit www.sanbs.org.za

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