The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has called on young people to consider donating blood ahead of Youth Day on Wednesday, saying supplies have dipped below pre-pandemic levels.
The call comes as the globe observed World Blood Donor Day on Monday.
The SANBS has launched its National Blood Donor Month campaign with the theme ‘#GiveBloodAndKeeptheWorldBeating’.
The Blood Service’s CEO is Ravi Reddy says, “We are about five percent below pre-COVID-19 levels. So the demand is increasing and we do desperately need to ensure that the supply is there to meet the demand. You can donate from the age of 16 if you are healthy and you are over 50kgs.”
“We go and target particularly the schools and I am happy to say that the youth are coming back to donate. We have improved access to where the youth can donate. This World Blood Donor Day is targeted at the youth because that is the future of the blood supply for the world,” explains Reddy.
? Every few seconds, someone, somewhere, needs safe blood.
Monday’s World Blood Donor Day is an opportunity to learn more from @WHO about how donating blood can help save lives. https://t.co/ZMXstSkUZt pic.twitter.com/eKlEhCnYqW
— United Nations (@UN) June 13, 2021
