#NewBlood has ensured enough blood for Easter Weekend

South Africans have heeded the South African National Blood Service’s plea for #NewBlood – and have more than answered the call.
A total of 5 473 units of blood were collected on Human Rights Day – far outstripping the 4 500 units targeted.
This has ensured that South Africa has enough stock of blood for the Easter holidays.
‘Thank you for the #NewBlood, South Africa. Thank you for lending us your hand. Thanks to you, we have started turning things around,’ says a delighted Silungile Mlambo, the chief marketing officer for the SANBS.
Mlambo says close to 7 000 people turned up at donor centres to donate on Wednesday 21 March, with just under 5 500 units being collected.
‘We are completely overwhelmed at the turnout. The #NewBlood we collected yesterday will help us ensure that no lives are placed at risk this Easter. There will be enough blood for babies born prematurely over the Easter holidays. There will be enough blood for accident victims. The person battling cancer will not have to wait for blood. And it is all thanks to South Africans who showed, by their actions, that they want to be the agents of change that President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged us to be,’ she says.
Mlambo urged South Africans, to continue to donate blood regularly. ‘Currently, less than one per cent of South Africans – about 400 000 – donate blood, even though it demands little more than giving up 30 minutes of your time about four times a year. We hope that everyone who has donated and all other eligible donors will donate regularly and help us save lives,’ she says.
‘The beauty of blood donation is that virtually anyone can do it. You don’t need to have money or live in a fancy house or have a graduate degree. If you’re over 16 years old, weigh over 50 kg and practise a safe lifestyle, you can be a blood donor. And, by giving blood, you can save a minimum of three lives.’ Visit www.sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31 to find out where you can donate.