On 5 November 2009; the Premier, the MEC for Health, the Speaker in the Legislature together with the Head of the Department of Health; Drs Zweli Mkhize, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, Ms Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni and Dr Sibongile Zungu, respectively, will take a lead in calling on the provincial parliamentarians, the public servants and the general public to donate blood.
This initiative will start at the provincial legislative building where the Premier and the MEC will make a call to all fellow parliamentarians to take a first step in donating blood. It will be taken to all government offices in the Pietermaritzburg area, followed by all district offices of health during the month of December.
Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but thousands of people needing transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. Despite ongoing efforts, it will still be many years before artificial blood substitutes can widely replace the donated human blood. Sufficient supplies of safe blood can only be assured by regular donations from voluntary donors. The recent data reveals some improvements in donations and their safety.
The timing of this initiative is aimed at coinciding with the busy festive season when the province usually faces acute blood shortages as a result of high road accidents and trauma cases.
Journalists are invited to join and report on the event to take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 5 November 2009
Time: 10h00 to 14h00
Venue: KwaZulu-Natal Legislative Building, 239 Langalibalele Street, Pietermaritzburg
"Donating a unit of this 'precious gift of life' and saves lives of those in dire need of blood. One must develop a habit of donating blood in order that the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has sufficient blood stock to ensure that in cases of emergency quality blood is always available for needy patients.
With the increasing demand as we approach the festive season; there is a need for recruiting more voluntary donors in addition to retaining those who have already donated. Retention of suitable blood donors should be a high priority for all of us. This also highlights the responsibility of blood transfusion services to provide quality care to ensure donors' health and safety. This will encourage the loyalty of voluntary blood donors to donate regularly" says the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
3 November 2009
