Shortages of blood are always a concern in South Africa, as less than 1% of the population is a blood donor.
DESPITE all the latest technology that we have at our disposal in the year 2022, there is one thing science cannot create, and that is blood.
According to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), safe blood is an essential component of any nation’s healthcare system and without it, thousands of patients could die.
Shortages of blood are always a concern in South Africa, as less than 1% of the population is a blood donor.
Since blood only lasts 42 days after donation, it is essential for blood donors to donate often, but due to safe practices, you are only allowed to donate blood every eight weeks.
Blood is divided into three groups, red blood cells, plasma, and platelets, and each unit of blood you donate can save at least three lives, and that is why we should all be proud of our dedicated and selfless voluntary donors. They donate blood regularly to save the lives of thousands of people each year.
You may ask: What is the point of donating blood? Well, you can’t buy or create blood, but you can give it to someone who needs it. Without blood donations, thousands of people would die every day. Therefore, every time you walk into a blood bank and donate, you are the reason a person who was in a critical condition and needed blood can go home to their loved ones.
This is the case for first-time donor Letlhogonolo Babuile, who donated blood at the Kimberley SANBS branch recently. After being asked why he decided to donate, he said that he attended an SAPS course recently and they were advised to donate blood. “I decided to come today because I was told that my donation could save up to three lives,” he said.
He also noted that he would now be donating on a regular basis.
According to SANBS communications specialist Khensani Mahlangu, the SANBS needs to maintain a blood stock level of five days for each blood group to ensure sustained blood availability for patients in need. There are three levels that are used to measure availability: 5 days = adequate stock; 3.5 days = significantly low;, and less than 3 days = critical.
Nationally, the levels are at 6.3 days, which is considered excellent. The Northern Cape and the Free State combined are standing on 7.9 days for the O blood type, which can give to all other blood types. The only province in the country that is lacking behind the rest of the country is KZN, which is standing on 4.1 days of supply.
Each and every person who donates their blood is a hero. Wouldn’t you also want to be called a hero?
