Pretoria - The South African National Blood Services (SANBS) has made an earnest appeal to regular group O blood donors to donate blood as the stocks have fallen to less than three days' supply.
SANBS Chief Operational Officer, Ravi Reddy, said the demand for group O blood continues to outstrip donations received from the public.
"Despite good collections, blood usage over the past few weeks has been slightly above target, thus reducing our day's coverage. SANBS needs to maintain five days' stock of blood to ensure uninterrupted supply to hospitals," Reddy said.
Reddy added that SANBS is also facing increasing pressure on the supply of group O blood stored in emergency blood fridges at hospitals and are endeavoring to manage the situation by sharing the limited stocks across the country.
He said that due to the exams and the holiday period, the SANBS would not be able to go to schools and tertiary institutions until January, and they need to rely on work places and community clinics to collect blood in order to meet the demand.
According to SANBS, South Africa needs 3 000 units of blood a day in order to meet the demands of cancer and leukaemia treatment, childbirth and gynaecological cases, surgery, research, paediatric cases, orthopaedic cases, malaria, blood diseases and casualties.
Blood is also needed for many car crash victims.
People between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh 50kg or more and lead a sexually safe lifestyle can donate blood.
For information on your nearest blood donor centre, call 0800 11 9031 toll free.
