SOUTH Africa’s blood stock is desperately low, that’s according to regional marketing manager for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), Sifiso Khoza.

He has urged residents to step forward and make donate to their nearest blood donor centres.

“Our national blood supply is currently at just 2.1 days’ Group O stock, amounting to just over 1 958 units of O blood available around the country. The situation, simply, is critical. We need South Africans – active donors, lapsed donors and potential donors – to stand together right now to bolster the national blood stock.”

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The festive period, when many South Africans drive long distances and road accidents increase, will certainly put additional pressure on the national blood supply added Khoza.

“While we need sufficient blood stock to cope with periods such as the December holidays, by far the greatest proportion of blood is required in other situations, such as in childbirth and for cancer patients.”

“So many people in life-threatening situations require blood. It’s what saves that haemorrhaging mother’s life, so that she can raise and love the baby she has just brought into the world. It’s what saves someone suffering complications during major surgery. It’s what helps that cancer patient endure and survive, treatment. And that’s the point: it’s not just blood. It’s saving people’s lives, through a simple, easy donation,” says Khoza.

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