Blood bank seeks to grow donor base

THE South African National Blood Service (SANBS) aims to collect 3,000 units of safe blood per day, to meet demand by the patients of South Africa.

However, in the past two months, this was an almost impossible target to achieve and there were several instances of major shortages of blood.

SANBS currently has a donor panel of 478,000 donors of which 390,000 are active donors. This is less than one percent of the country’s population and shows the challenges that SANBS faces in ensuring that it has safe blood available for those in need.

“The greatest need for blood are for patients who are terminally ill and rely on daily, if not weekly transfusions for their survival as well as women who have complications at childbirth. Accidents, scheduled operations and paediatric care are other cases where blood is needed desperately too. As we approach the busiest period of the year, spare a thought for the people who rely on your kind act and please find 30 minutes to donate blood and know that you may be giving someone else a chance to look forward to 2015, said SANBS regional marketing manager for the East Coast Region, Sifiso Khoza.

To become a blood donor, one needs to be between the ages of 16 and 65 years; weigh more than 50kg, be in good health; consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient and lead a sexually safe lifestyle.
For more information call 0800-11-9031 or visit www.sanbs.org.za.