DURBAN - Once again the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is appealing to the public to donate blood and boost blood supply ahead of the Christmas weekend as stock levels are critically low.
The SANBS said it would be unable to meet the demand for blood products if blood donations did not increase.
SANBS chief executive Ravi Reddy said: “During the holiday period, we do not have access to schools, universities and many corporates, which traditionally make up a large proportion of the sites where regular blood donors donate. This causes a decrease in blood donations whilst the usage of blood in hospitals only decreases slightly.”
Reddy said that while the slight decrease was due to fewer elective surgeries taking place, all other required blood transfusions continued over this period, and SANBS would not be able to fulfil all the requests received by hospitals if blood donations did not increase.
Blood stocks have significantly dropped this week. Give the gift of life this festive season by donating blood at your nearest donor centre or mobile clinic. Contact us on 0800 11 90 31 pic.twitter.com/s7Hr53LgpK
He also said blood donations had been impacted significantly over the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that limited access to regular blood drive venues. The current fourth wave of the pandemic has again significantly impacted blood donations and blood supply.
“We are appealing to South Africans to please donate as we have blood drives planned around the country in our fixed donor centres and shopping malls to give people enough opportunity to give the much-needed blood,” Reddy said.
“Covid-19 protocols continue to be followed to ensure the safety of all donors and SANBS staff, while both vaccinated and unvaccinated donors will be allowed as their vaccine status has no impact on the blood that they will be donating.”
We are appealing to South Africans to please donate blood ahead of the Christmas weekend. pic.twitter.com/z9XFinKP8r
— The SANBS (@theSANBS) December 22, 2021
To become a blood donor, you must:
• Be between the ages of 16 and 75 years.
• Weigh 50kg or more.
• Be in good health.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient.
For details about where to donate blood, visit www.sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31. Connect with them on Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).
Daily News