Call from SANBS for blood donations as stocks fall after festive season

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is urging people to donate blood as stocks sit below optimal levels.

The SANBS said there is a usual dip in national blood collections during and immediately after the festive season. While this is expected, rebuilding healthy stock levels early in the year is essential to ensure the continuous availability of blood products for patients who depend on them.

It added that several factors contributing to blood stocks dropping in January, and largely impacting on SANBS’ reliance on organised blood drives, such as:

• Holiday travel and movement: Donors are often away from their regular donation centres during December, leading to fewer visits.

• Limited workplace and campus drives: Workplaces, schools and universities and key collection points close or operate on reduced schedules over the festive season.

• Meeting demand during the festive period with reduced donations. Emergency medical care, childbirth and the ongoing treatment of chronic conditions continue year-round, placing sustained pressure on available blood supplies.
• Disrupted donor routines: Year-end events, travel and family commitments can cause regular donors to miss their usual donations schedule, creating a visible gap in blood collections by January.

SANBS is encouraging O and B blood group donors who are due for donation to donate as these groups contribute significantly to the stability of the national blood supply:

• O negative is the universal blood type used in emergencies.
• Group B contributes significantly to maintaining balanced stock for specific patient groups.

However, SANBS emphasises that all blood groups are welcome and needed.

“We appreciate every South African who donates blood, and we want to start the year by saying thank you,” said Thandi Mosupye, Senior Manager: Marketing, Communication and Brand at SANBS.

“January is a challenging month for collections, but it is also an opportunity. If donors, especially those with O and B blood groups visit a donor centre early in the year, we can stabilise the national blood supply quickly and ensure hospitals continue caring for patients without interruption. We encourage all eligible donors to make time to give the gift of life.”

SANBS said all eligible donors can make a blood donation at their nearest donor centre or mobile drive.

Who can donate?

• First-time donors must be between 16 and 75 years old.
• Donors must weigh at least 50 kg (55 kg for platelet donations).
• Donors should be in good health, lead a low-risk lifestyle, and consider their blood safe for transfusion.
• Donors should have eaten within four hours before donating.
• Whole blood may not have been donated in the last 56 days, or platelets/plasma in the last 14 days

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