Rumbidzo Chikomo

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) fear that the cold temperature and the outbreak of Covid-19 is resulting in blood shortage.

The SANBS has always had less donors around the winter season but with Covid-19 on everyone’s doorstep things have gone from bad to worse. People now live in fear of contracting the virus and the fact the donating process involve needles makes people are little more sceptical about donating blood.

Silungile Mlambo, chief marketing officer at SANBS anticipates that if this continues there will be a dangerous shortage in blood which will put the lives of those who dependent on the blood in danger.

“The imminent shortages pose real dangers to the healthcare systems in our country and we encourage donors to support us”, Mlambo stated in an online article by Southlands Sun.

He added that he is aware that people fear contracting Covid-19, so serious screening will be done at donor clinics to ensure that both donors and staff do not contract the virus.

Mlambo also stated that “people are not at risk of contracting the virus through the blood donation process, or via a blood transfusion since respiratory viruses are not known to be transmitted by donation or transfusion”.

However, people with flu or flu-like symptoms are advised to wait till they are better before they can donate.

People willing to donate can visit www.sanbs.org.za to find places where they can donate in their areas.

Picture: iol.co.za