Where There Is Blood There Is Life

Bleed love. Bleed life.

Who is SANBS?

SANBS is a non-profit organisation which aims to provide all patients with sufficient, safe, quality blood products and related medical services in a sustainable manner. It is rated among the best in the world in the provision of blood and blood products, as well as research and training. SANBS operates across South Africa with the exclusion of the Western Cape, and supports its counterparts across the SADC region.

Website: www.sanbs.org.za

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sanbs

Call: 0800 11 90 31 (Toll-free number)

Twitter: @thesanbs

Blood; the vital principle; life: the universal channel to everyone’s heart irrespective of all factors. Where there is no blood, there is no life. In conjunction with water, one might call blood the liquid of life,

The harsh reality is… Less than 1 % of SA currently donates blood. According to SANBS, one in seven people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives, but with SA blood banks are running low there is no blood in the blood bank for life-saving blood transfusions.

In a survey I conducted over the last week, 100% of 50 participants said they would donate blood to save someone they love. In the same survey that number decreased to 68.2% when questioned whether or not they would donate blood to save the life of an unfamiliar person.

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In a Media Release: Missing types, Sillungile Mlambo, Senior Marketing Manager for the SANBS, the service that collects tests and processes blood across South Africa said: “Blood transfusions save lives and transform health for millions across the world. But they are dependent on people donating blood. Whether it is patients receiving treatment for cancer, blood disorders, after accidents or during surgery, or new moms who lost blood in childbirth, blood is an absolutely essential part of modern healthcare.”

According to American Red Cross, three people across the world receive a life changing blood transfusion every second. In a survey for the Missing Type campaign, participating blood services reported the number of people becoming donors and giving blood for the first time was 1,830,003 in 2005 and 1,324,980 in 2015 – a drop of 27.6% in 2015 compared to 2005. More and more people are in need of blood, but fewer and fewer people seem to be donating.

There are four main blood groups namely, A, B, AB and O. Not all blood groups are compatible with each other. 247d8cb79af4f1fba400557d2f434467--type-chart-blood-donation

Mixing incompatible blood groups lead to blood clumping, or agglutination, which is dangerous for individuals. Therefore it is important to have stock of the right blood supply in order to avoid such complications.

O is the most desirable group as it can be used in a blood transfusion to all the different blood groups without harm. On a pod cast on KFM on the 13 of April SANBS spokesperson encouraged all with blood group O to donate, especially over the holiday season when road accidents are more prominent.

Click This link to see it for yourself: sanbs-facing-blood-type-o-shortage

Who can donate?

According to SANBS, You can start donating blood across South Africa from age 16 if you weigh over 50 kilograms and lead a sexually safe lifestyle. Keep in mind one must never donate blood to receive a free HIV test as it places lives of patients at risk. Donating blood on a regular basis, when possible, is the best way to help SANBS save lives.

You can donate blood up to four times a year depending on your health. Find your donor center here: SANBS Donar Center

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According to a Media Release by SANBS, the key barriers to people coming forward to donate that were identified by blood services around the world include: https://sanbs.org.za/media-release/media-release-missing-types/