Zululanders are called to start 2026 on a positive note, by donating a pint of blood at The Abundant Life Centre’s (TALC) upcoming blood drive.

One pint of blood can save up to three lives, and TALC has a goal of 200 pints for this month’s drive.

ALSO READ: One hundred donations and counting for Richards Bay blood donor

Visit The Abundant Life Centre at 2 Bottlebrush Bend, Veldenvlei on Sunday, 18 January between 11am and 4pm to make your donation.

For more information, contact Ps Ivan Naidoo on 082 4511179.

Why donate blood?

Without sufficient quality blood in stock, thousands of patients would die daily.

When you donate blood, you give patients a gift money can’t buy and science can’t create.

One unit of blood can save up to three lives because donated blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets – each of which can be given to a different patient.

Donors must:

• Be between 16 and 75 years old, for first-time donors
• Weigh at least 50kg (55kg to donate platelets)
• Be in good health and lead a low-risk lifestyle
• Consider your blood safe for transfusion
• Have had a meal less than four hours before donating blood
• Have not donated whole blood within the last 56 days (or platelets or plasma in the last 14 days)
• Have a pulse between 60-100 beats per minute
• Have blood pressure between 100-180 systolic (first number) and between 60-100 diastolic (second number)
• Have haemoglobin level of 12.0 g/dl or above for women and 13.0 g/dl or above for men

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