Drive calls on Tshwane residents to donate blood

A critical shortage of life-saving blood has prompted the Tshwane metro to partner with the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) on a campaign to garner blood donors.

To raise awareness of the importance of blood donation, a campaign will be hosted early next month to get more people to donate.

“This drive is an urgent intervention as there is a critical shortage of life-saving blood in the country,” said Tshwane mayoral spokesperson Sipho Stuurman.

“The SANBS needs to maintain sufficient blood stock levels of five days to ensure availability for patients.”

Stuurman said SANBS needs a daily donation of 3 500 blood units to meet the ever-increasing demand for blood.

He said the SANBS supplies collected blood units to public and private health institutions that use the blood for patients who require urgent blood transfusions.

“Blood donation is essential to our healthcare system as it provides a lifeline to patients in need,’ he added.

“It is estimated that only about 1% of the South African population are active regular blood donors. This figure is significantly low and requires all of us to come on board and support the blood donation drive by the SANBS.

“The aim is to get as many people as possible to join the drive and boost the available units in the blood bank to save lives.”

Stuurman urged all residents between the ages of 16 and 75 years with a minimum weight of 50kg to donate blood.

A donor’s pulse needs to be between 50 and 100 regular beats per minute with regular blood pressure.

“You must be in good health and consider your blood safe for transfusion,” he said.

“You will need to fill in a form where all relevant aspects of your health status need to be confirmed.”

Donors can give blood every eight weeks.

The first campaign will be held at Tshwane House on May 3 from 09:00 to 12:00 and will target employees.

The public is invited to join the donation drive from May 4-6 from 09:00 to 12:00 at the following venues:

– 4 May 2022: Lukas van den Berg Hall in Pretoria West

– 5 May 2022: Giant Stadium in Soshanguve

– 6 May 2022: Mini-Munitoria in Mamelodi

The metro’s mobile outreach teams will be deployed at all the venues to provide health screenings and other services, such as Covid-19 testing and vaccination.

“Blood donation is critical because it saves lives. By donating, we give people who are reliant on blood transfusions a fighting chance not only to survive, but to live a happy and fulfilling life,” Stuurman said.

“People recovering from illnesses, such as childbirth complications, cancer treatment, burns, trauma and surgery might need a blood transfusion.”

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