Mall of the North helps top up SANBS blood shortage

Mall of the North has been a consistent and loyal partner of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) and hosts a number of blood drives each year. During a recent three-day drive held at the Edgars platform 39 units of blood were collected.
The SANBS depends on donors to maintain a regular inflow of blood. While regular donors remain the mainstay of this process the service also relies heavily on blood clinics which give first time and irregular donors the opportunity to donate blood.
Dottie Pinn, SANBS Limpopo Public Relations Officer said the service issues more than one million blood components annually. “If it was not for blood donors, life-saving medical treatment for children with life threatening anaemia, trauma victims, women with pregnancy related complications, organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, complicated surgical procedures and cancer treatments would not be possible.,” Pinn said.
“With the recent statistics about the low blood supply, I urge donors to step up and donate blood, and anyone who wants to become a donor can visit our offices or any of the mobile blood clinics around the city,” she said.
Rita van Jaarsveld who donated for the eighth time at Mall of the North said she has been donating regularly since she was a donor recruiter at Pietersburg Hoërskool, two years ago. Mari Delport, Marketing Manager at Mall of the North said that the mall gladly supports the SANBS and their community projects.
“We would like to urge people to donate, especially over the Festive Season,” she said.
Upcoming mobile clinics: Taxila Secondary School tomorrow (Friday) and Pietersburg Hoërskool on 19 October.

Story and photos: Alet-Elize van Jaarsveld
>>alet-elize@observer.co.za

Featured photo: Rita van Jaarsveld, eighth time donor, relaxes while making her contribution towards the SANBS’ blood stock.