On a recent visit to Phekolong District Hospital and Dihlabeng Regional Hospital in Bethlehem, Free State, OurHealth learned that at least fourteen patients were in need of blood.
“I have lost hope, I do not know which blood type will match mine,’ said Matshepo Mofokeng (24), a patient at Phekolong who has had two failed blood transfusions. ‘It is almost Christmas and I need to go home and be with my family,” she said. “I wish more people could donate so that there will be a variety of blood types and enough blood for us.”
According to the SANBS public relations practioner in the the Bethlehem branch, Rochelle van der Merwe, not enough people donate and among the few who donate some units can’t be used due to factors such as HIV/AIDS.
The SANBS appeals for more blood donations: “We encourage anyone who is eligible to donate blood to do so as soon as possible,” said Van Schalkwyk. “Anything that you as an individual can do to make a difference will change the lives of so many people,” she said.
Selloane Molakeng is the OurHealth Citizen Journalist reporting from the Thabo Mofutsanyana health district in Free State.
