Matriculants thanked for blood donations
They have taken the bold step to join the many men and women who go out of their way to donate blood.
THE South African National Blood Service (SANBS) salutes the 2015 matriculants on their good academic performance.
SANBS chief marketing officer, Thapelo Mokoena, said that not only did many of these teenagers manage to perform well at school, they also committed themselves to donating blood regularly, thereby saving numerous lives.
“Nationally, people between 16 and 19 years of age constitute 21 percent of SANBS’s total active donor base, which is approximately 490 000. They have taken the bold step to join the many men and women who go out of their way to donate blood,” explained Mr Mokoena.
To ensure that there is sufficient blood stock available, SANBS needs to collect 3 000 units of blood every day. Each unit of blood has the potential to save three lives.
“These young people are truly exemplary South Africans. They have made the decision to sacrifice their time to donate a unit of blood to somebody they might never even meet. We are proud of them for their willingness to give blood while working hard to excel in their academics and overcoming whatever other life challenges they may face,” said Mr Mokoena.
The pupils’ consistent participation in blood drives is made possible through carefully considered partnerships with schools throughout the country. Various governing bodies, principals, heads of department, teachers and parents play a big role in encouraging young people to donate blood.
Arranging blood drives at schools is not an easy task because the demanding academic schedules and extracurricular activities must not be compromised. Last year the blood service hosted blood drives at 1 161 schools and it invites more schools to become partners and host a blood drive every two months.
Mr Mokoena hopes that the matriculants will continue to donate even though they have exited the basic education system: “Whether they join the workforce, enrol in a tertiary institution or take a gap year, it will give us great joy to see them saving many more lives from wherever they are and remaining part of the SANBS family for years to come.”
For more information on how to arrange your own blood drive, phone 0800 11 90 3 or send an email to customerservice@sanbs.org.za.
