MOST South Africans will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. Alarmingly, less than 1% of South Africans regularly donate blood.
One person donating blood can save a minimum of three lives!
Adding to this, a whole generation is being lost to the donor community due to aging and accompanying health challenges. With an older generation unable to donate, millennials and younger adults are increasingly crucial to the country’s future blood sustainability.
“Despite SA’s youth forming almost 50% of the population, there is a critical shortage of donors. They truly need to prove themselves as the generation that saves lives,” says Silungile Mlambo, spokesperson for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).
SANBS has partnered with Global Citizen to engage the youth to donate blood.
“Blood reserves in South Africa are at critically low levels. We encourage donors to do regular blood donations. It takes just 20 minutes. What’s more, one unit of your blood can potentially save three lives,” said Thato Noinyane, Global Citizen partnerships manager.
Visit the SANBS Uitenhage donor centre or any mobile drive and save three lives by spending 20 minutes of your time to donate blood. Someone somewhere needs your blood to stay alive!
“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller.
