Be a hero on National Blood Donor Day

Each year, millions of South Africans need blood transfusions in order to lead healthy lives.

If it weren’t for voluntary blood donations, who knows what people would have done to get blood when they needed it? Who knows how many people would have had access to safe blood when they needed it?

This year, World Blood Donor Day finds us facing a unique set of circumstances not seen in many years. Even amid a pandemic, the annual observance has in no way lost its significance and importance.

With hordes of people receiving coronavirus treatment in hospitals, the need for blood has not slowed down.The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) celebrates this annual observation which focuses on the contributions of selfless blood donors who contribute towards the health and well-being of others.

Moreover, these commemorations are an opportunity to call on more people to take up the cause and become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly.

Once again, the SANBS commits to celebrating and extending heartfelt gratitude towards all of their blood donors.

“14 June is a day that is particularly close to our hearts. We work tirelessly each year to ensure that safe and affordable blood products are available to our fellow countrymen and we cannot negate the monumental role played by all our committed donors. We thank donors for their selfless acts, and so do the recipients of their blood,” said SANBS chief marketing officer, Silungile Mlambo, with great appreciation.

Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD).

The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood. World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on the day in 1868 when Karl Landsteiner was born. It brings a precious opportunity to celebrate donors on a national and global level, and to commemorate the birthday of Karl, who won the Nobel Prize for his great discovery of the ABO blood group system.

Mlambo added that the involvement and support of blood donors are most effective when individuals commit to donating regularly and said, “The task of getting donors to commit regularly is a great challenge and we hope that through hearing and reading shared stories from people whose lives have been saved by blood transfusions, people are motivated to donate blood regularly”.

To find out more about where you can donate blood, visit sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31. Follow SANBS on social media; Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs). Mlambo concluded by saying, “Don?t let South Africa run out of safe blood. Donate today.”