The public and private healthcare sectors rely on blood donations from less than one percent of the South African population, says SA National Blood Services (SANBS) spokesperson Khensani Mahlangu. SANBS has made an urgent plea for people to donate as the country has less than five days’ supply left. 

“We are only at 3.3 days’ blood stocks, and the ideal would be five days’ stocks. We need South Africans to come forward to donate,” says Mahlangu.

She says the number of registered donors remains very low, and the number is not constant.“Many factors can influence the number of dedicated donors who regularly donate, but the trend has always been that we are reliant on less than 1% of the population for the nation’s blood supply,” explains Mahlangu.

We are approaching critically low stock levels and we need your help.

Drop us your location to find your nearest donation site. pic.twitter.com/i27MJqCTct

— The SANBS (@theSANBS) February 8, 2023

Your donation can save three lives

Mahlangu says a unit of blood, which is 475ml, can save up to three lives. When blood is donated, a single whole donation is separated into its various components – red cells, plasma, and platelets and given to patients with different needs.

The World Health Organisation says blood collected in an anticoagulant can be stored and transfused to a patient in an unmodified state. This is known as a blood transfusion. WHO also recommends that all blood donations be screened for infections before use.

Dr Ayanda Mbuli, a General Manager of Health Policy and Clinical Advisory at AfroCentric Group, says that South Africa needs a constantly stable supply of blood as it experiences among the highest number of trauma cases worldwide. 

“There is a constant need and we have a national shortage. We have a high prevalence and incidence of trauma. For example, gunshot victims, stabbings and motor vehicle accidents,” says Mbuli.

A thankful blood donor recipient

Osteosarcoma cancer survivor Nomsa Tshingowe believes that blood donors played a significant role in saving her life. Tshingowe, from Mulima village in Limpopo, says she received several blood transfusions during chemotherapy and surgery years ago. And she remembers the stress she felt when there were blood shortages, and doctors told her the wait could be several days.

“Some days, it was so stressful being told I would have to wait for the blood for a long time due to shortages at the blood banks. But I will always be grateful to strangers who gave me the gift of life in the form of blood,” saysTshingowe.

The 32-year-old social worker, blood type O, has encouraged South Africans to donate more blood to save lives as they saved hers.

“I am here today because of the blood I received from people I don’t know. One of the lessons I have learnt through all this is the importance of giving. It does not matter if you know the person or not. My appeal to everyone is that please donate blood, no matter how small the amount, as it will go a long way in saving lives. Who knows what might have happened if there was no blood available when I was in need at that time,” says Tshingowe.

Mahlangu shares that blood is also used to help advance the science of blood-related medicine worldwide. She also urged South Africans to become blood donors and donate regularly. “There is no substitute for blood, so we all have to save one another.” 

Who can donate blood?

According to SANBS the minimum requirements to be a blood donor include the following.

• Must be between the ages of 16 and 75 years old for first-time donors.
• Weigh a minimum of 50 kgs( for platelets, a minimum of 55 kgs)
• Be in good health.
• You lead a low-risk lifestyle.
• Must not have donated blood in the last 56 days (and platelets in the last 14 days)
• Your pulse is between 60-100 regular beats per minute.
• Blood pressure must be below 180 systolic and 100 diastolic.

SANBS aims to collect 3000 units daily to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the healthcare system. There are many SANBS blood donation sites open to the public across the country. –  Health-e News.