Issued by SANBS
August is the month we celebrate women in South Africa, for their courage and their resilience.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) knows the challenges many women face when they experience gynaecological and other childbirth complications. We hear the pain from mothers and wives who are often helpless when their loved ones are in hospital awaiting blood transfusions and we hope that with the help of the public we are able to make a small difference in their lives.
Presently, approximately 800 women die needlessly from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications daily. Severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth is a major cause of death, illness and long-term disability. However, blood transfusion has been identified as one of the nine key life-saving interventions for the management of pregnancy-related complications.
Approximately 26% of donated blood that SANBS collects is used for childbirth & gynaecological cases.
“At SANBS we work hard at ensuring that there is always adequate, safe blood available but this is only possible with the help of blood donors,” said Vanessa Raju, Communications Manager of SANBS.
In honour of women’s month, SANBS urges people who meet the minimum requirements to help prevent maternal deaths and any other complications by donating blood.
Minimum blood donor requirements are:
Ages between 16 and 65 years
Weigh 50kg or more
Be in good health
Lead a sexually safe lifestyle
