WCBS urges blood donors to donate as stocks are critically low
Gauteng communities are urged to register as organ and tissue donors.
The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is urgently urging blood donors as its stock levels across the province are dangerously low. They aim to maintain a five-day supply to ensure sufficient blood is available for patients in need. Currently, seven out of the eight blood groups are below the required target. The O-positive and O-negative groups have only a two-day supply, while A-positive, B-negative, and AB-negative have a three-day supply.
B-positive and AB-positive groups have a four-day supply. The WCBS spokesperson, Marike Carli, has specifically called for healthy individuals between the ages of 16 and 75, weighing over 52 kilograms, and with a safe sexual history to donate blood. Blood stocks in the WC are critically low, with only a two-day supply left for O- blood and a three-day supply for O+. The WCBS has provided a link to find the nearest blood donation clinic on their website.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Department of Health is also appealing to the community to register as organ and tissue donors. Currently, about 1,100 people in Gauteng are waiting for a kidney transplant, while over 6,500 people are on waiting lists nationwide. One organ donor can potentially save up to seven lives, and tissue donation can assist up to 50 people.
Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson, Steve Mabona, emphasized the importance of discussing donation wishes with families to ease decisions during times of grief. He highlighted that cultural beliefs might be a barrier and urged communities to engage and educate families about the benefits of organ and tissue donation.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
