THE Richards Bay Blood Donor Centre hosted a weekend promotional blood drive, supported by Durban-based radio station Vuma 103 FM, to help boost the province’s low stock levels.
They received phenomenal community support and the centre reported having attended to 109 donors, of which 28 were new donors. Ninety-one units of blood were collected.
South African National Blood Service (SANBS) representative Dennis Ngongoma confirmed a severe blood shortage countrywide and on Friday there was only a 2.1day supply nationally and a one day supply for KZN available.
‘We have been negatively impacted by the school holidays, but believe supply should increase when pupils return to school this week.
‘SANBS needs to maintain a five day supply at all times and we must collect 3 000 units daily to meet the demand.
‘We encourage all regular and new donors to visit our donor centre at Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre or our local mobile clinics across Zululand,’ said Ngongoma.
April mobile clinic dates:
6 – Tendele Coal Mine 9am-4.30pm
7 – John Ross College 9am-2.30pm
8 – Richards Bay Secondary School 9am-2pm
11 – Richards Bay High School 9am-2pm
12 – Unizulu Richards Bay Campus 9am-3pm
13 – Grantleigh School 10am-3pm
14 – Empangeni Library 10am-6pm
15 – Felixton College 8am-2pm
18 – Mtunzini 2pm-6pm
19 – Impact Paper Felixton 10am-3pm
20 – Nkandla Hospital 9am-3.30pm
21 – Empangeni High School 9am-2pm
22 – Empangeni Sanlam Centre 10am-4pm
25 – Richards Bay Christian School 9am-1pm
26 – Catherine Booth Hospital 9.30am-2.30pm
28 – Velangaye High School 9am-2.30pm
29 – Richem Secondary School 9am-2pm
