Pretoria – The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Buti Manamela, has heeded the South African National Blood Service’s call for South Africans to donate blood.
Speaking to SAnews after donating blood, the Deputy Minister urged the nation, especially young people, to donate blood and save lives.
“If you donate blood, you are saving lives,” he said.
Although not a first time donor, the Deputy Minister said he will from now on donate more frequently. He donated blood today as part of government's National Imbizo Focus Week.
“I will do it more often. It takes a lot of courage and discipline. It talks to your lifestyle. This must be an act of saving lives,” he said.
Asked about the experience of donating blood, Deputy Minister Manamela said it was a “painless” process.
He said young people must distance themselves from the use of drugs and practice safe sex.
SANBS spokesperson Thapelo Mokoena said the service is experiencing a critical shortage of blood and called on South Africans to donate blood.
Mokoena said students are the ones who mostly donate but they are now experiencing low turnouts because schools are closed.
“We mostly rely on students. They are ones who mostly donate blood. We still need more young people to donate blood,” he said.
Mokoena said about 4% of blood donated is used on car accident victims, while “most of the blood is used on cancer patients”.
Mokoena said one blood unit can save up to three lives.
According to the SANBS, thousands of patients would die daily if there is insufficient quality blood in stock.
“When one donates blood, they give patients a gift money cannot buy or science cannot create,” SANBS said.
The categories of people who need blood transfusion are women haemorrhaging due to pregnancy complication and other gyneacological complications, children with severe anaemia, accident victims and surgical and cancer patients.
Donating blood is a safe and simple procedure that takes about 30 minutes. All needles are new, sterile, used only once and incinerated after use.
Requirements for one to qualify to donate blood are that one must weigh at least 50kg or more, must be between the ages of 16 and 65, must be in good health and lead a sexually safe lifestyle.
People interested in donating blood are advised to contact the SANBS call centre on 0800 11 9031 to find out about the nearest mobile drive happening in their area. – SAnews.gov.za
