Give the gift of life, donate blood

With a dip in national blood collections, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) calls on donors to help rebuild healthy stock levels to ensure the availability of blood products for patients who depend on them.

Several factors contribute to blood stocks dropping in January: holiday travel and movement; limited workplace and campus drives; meeting demand during the festive period with reduced donations; and disrupted donor routines.

SANBS encourages O and B blood group donors who are due for donation to donate as they contribute to the stability of the national blood supply. O negative is the universal blood type used in emergencies and Group B contributes to maintaining balanced stock for specific patient groups.

However, SANBS emphasises that all blood groups are needed – whether you are an O, A, B or AB.

“We appreciate every South African who donates blood, and we want to start the year by saying thank you,” said Thandi Mosupye, Senior Manager: Marketing, Communication and Brand at SANBS.

“January is a challenging month for collections, but it is also an opportunity. If donors, especially those with O and B blood groups visit a donor centre early in the year, we can stabilise the national blood supply quickly and ensure hospitals continue caring for patients without interruption. We encourage all eligible donors to make time to give the gift of life.

Who can donate?

* First-time donors must be between 16 and 75 years old.
* Donors must weigh at least 50kg (55kg for platelet donations).
* Donors should be in good health, lead a low-risk lifestyle, and consider their blood safe for transfusion.
* Donors should have eaten within four hours before donating.
* Whole blood may not have been donated in the last 56 days, or platelets/plasma in the last 14 days.

For more information or to find your nearest donor centre, contact the SANBS call centre on 0800 11 9031 or visit https://sanbs.org.za/

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