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Born to be Lifesavers

Women bring lives, and also have the ability to save these lives. Women have been saving lives since the inception of blood donation in South Africa and continue to do so daily.

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has been honouring all female blood donors annually on Women’s Day, this year is no exception. Female blood donors make up 43.5% of the actual blood donors in the country and have shown an increase of 5.2% from the previous year.

The CEO of SANBS Dr Loyiso Mpuntsha says the company wishes to encourage more women to support blood donation in a continued effort to save lives.

“For decades women have carried lives of generations, nurtured growing nations, nursed the sick back to life and accompanied the dying in their lonely final days to eternal rest. As women save lives through blood donation, they also give life through childbirth,” Dr Mpuntsha said.

Many women’s lives, she adds, have also been saved through blood transfusion during and after childbirth and many babies have been assisted onto a healthy life.

“Up to 26% of blood is used for women in need of blood transfusion during childbirth and gynaecological conditions annually,” says Dr Mpunthsa.

The Blood Donation theme for 2007 is Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood. The SANBS hopes to create more awareness on the significance of blood and its daily usage to save lives.

“By becoming blood donors, women are also investing in their health. Women should take pride in the fact that they’re leading safe sexual lifestyles and are taking care of their health in general,” Dr Mpuntsha says.

The majority of female blood donors are between the ages of 20 and 29, followed by the 30 to 39 year age group.

SANBS is encouraging more females to become part of the blood donor family, and once you’re a regular donor you will be eligible to donate every 56 days.

The requirements for blood donation are that a donor should:
• Weigh 50kg or more;
• Lead a sexually safe lifestyle;
• Be between the age of 16 and 65;
• Must be in good health; and
• Eat a meal before coming in to donate blood.

For more information, phone SANBS toll free at 0800 11 9031