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Jeff Moloi
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is an independent non-profit organisation, and one of the leaders in the discipline of blood transfusion. SANBS operates in eight out of nine provinces in South Africa (with the exception of the Western Cape, which is serviced by the Western Cape Blood Service). It also provides crucial support to countries in the SADC region.
SANBS supplies over one million blood products annually and is rated among the top blood services in the world. This pedigree comes, as a result of world-class testing and collection protocols that ensure that the blood which is transfused is always of top quality.
The blood is processed into its constituent components; red blood cells, plasma, and platelets therefore in principle a single blood donation can save a minimum of three lives.
Enough blood next week might be too late for the patients needing treatment this week. This is the reality facing the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) daily. Timing is everything.
SANBS - Trusted to Save Lives - not the easiest mission to live up to during a pandemic. As an essential service, SANBS is permitted to operate during all levels of lockdown, but reaching enough people is not easy. The annual Algoa FM Bloodline Week will therefore continue, for the 24th consecutive year, to encourage as many people as possible to donate blood in Algoa Country.
The promotion will once again run over 5 days, starting on Monday, 12 July 2021 until Friday, 16 July 2021. The aim? To collect 1 500 units of blood over five days. A detailed list of blood drives and operating hours will be published on the Algoa FM website’s features page.
Stay tuned to Algoa FM for regular updates throughout the week, counting down the blood donations, in order to reach the target of 1 500 units of blood by the end of the week.
Donating blood is a small act towards covering the world with a blanket of love, kindness, and hope. In return, SANBS will give all donors a fleecy blanket, as a token of appreciation for braving the colder weather to save a life.
The SANBS blanket as a gift is part of the national launch of the new commitment campaign. Previously, a person had to donate blood four times in the same year to qualify for the annual gift, but as of 2021, donors will receive a gift on every 2nd donation, starting with the fleecy blanket. The aim is to encourage regular blood donation in order to save more lives.
To find your nearest donor center contact 0800 11 9031 or visit our website on www.sanbs.org.za.
