Blood service celebrates first year with plasma machine

SECUNDA – The Secunda branch of the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) celebrated its first anniversary since they received a plasma machine to enable them to not only collect blood donations from people, but also plasma donations.

Plasma donors who donated recently, received a token of appreciation from the blood service in Secunda.

Ms Dot Prinsloo, donor relations practitioner at the Secunda branch, urged residents to keep on donating blood and plasma.

She said during level five and four of the lockdown, the blood service has seen a decline in blood stocks.

Ms Silungile Mlambo, SANBS chief marketing officer, said with very little blood available, this will have a severe impact on the patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions.

“Whenever our blood stocks reach below two days, it places the lives of patients at risk,” said Ms Mlambo.

“If affects the lives of a haemorrhaging mother, newborn babies, accident victims, cancer-fighting patients and thousands of other patients in need of a blood transfusion.

The SANBS needs to collect at least 4 000 units of blood daily to meet the daily demand for blood.

“This is an urgent call to all who are eligible, willing and able to donate blood to give the gift, as you have consistently done in the months that have passed.”

A blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones.

Ms Mlambo said everyone is called to please continue to visit their nearest blood donor centre or mobile blood drive.

One blood donation can be used to save up to three lives and it only takes 30 minutes, four times yearly to donate blood.

If you are between 16 and 75 years old, weigh 50kg or more, are in good health, lead a healthy lifestyle and consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient, consider becoming a regular blood donor.

For more information, visit www.sanbs.org.za or contact 0800 119031.

You can also follow the SANBS’s pages on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.