Blood donation is critical
There is a major shortage of blood in the country.
THE South African National Blood Service (SANBS) aims to collect 3 000 units of safe blood per day, to ensure it can meet demands. However, in the past two months, this was an almost impossible target to achieve and there were several instances of major shortages of blood in the country.
SANBS currently has a donor panel of 478 000 donors of which 390 000, less than one percent of the population, are active. This shows the challenges facing SANBS in ensuring that it constantly has safe blood available for those in need.
The greatest need for blood is for patients who are terminally ill and rely on daily, if not weekly, transfusions for their survival as well as women who suffer complications at childbirth. Accidents, scheduled operations and paediatric cases are also heavily dependent on the availability of safe blood.
As the busiest period of the year approaches, spare a thought for the people who rely on your kind act and find 30 minutes to donate blood and know you may be giving someone else a chance to look forward to 2015. For more information contact the call centre at 0800 11 9031 or visit the website www.sanbs.org.za.
