SANBS CALLS FOR DONATIONS AMID DWINDLING STOCKS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                     1 June 2023

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is facing severe blood stock shortages. Current weather conditions and a higher than usual demand for blood have sent blood stocks plummeting.

SANBS needs to collect 3500 units of blood a day and is urgently appealing to all potential and existing blood donors that are due to donate, to visit a SANBS blood donation site, to donate their precious unit of blood.

“With little blood available on hand, this will have a severe impact on the patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions,” said Thandi Mosupye, SANBS Senior Manager: Marketing, Communication and Brand. “Whenever our blood stocks reach below three days, it places the lives of patients at risk. The lives of haemorrhaging mothers, newborn babies, accident victims, and thousands of other patients in need of a blood transfusion,” Mosupye added.

Each blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones. Another Christmas to remember, another summer holiday at the beach, another birthday celebration.

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
• Commit to donating blood regularly

To find out more about where you can donate blood, visit www.sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31. Connect with us on Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).

Don’t let South Africa run out of safe blood. Donate today.

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About the SANBS

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is an independent non-profit organization and one of the leaders in the discipline of blood transfusion. SANBS operates in eight out of nine provinces in South Africa (with the exception of the Western Cape, which is serviced by the Western Cape Blood Service). It also provides crucial support to countries in the SADC region.

SANBS supplies over one million blood products annually and is rated among the top blood services in the world.  This pedigree comes, because of world-class testing and collection protocols, which ensure that the blood, which is transfused, is always of top quality.

The blood is processed into its constituent components; red blood cells, plasma and platelets therefore in principle a single blood donation can save up to three lives.