During June the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) celebrates National Blood Donor month, with the 14th of June being World Blood Donor Day. During this month WCBS endeavours to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation.
The theme for this year’s World Blood Donor Day is ‘Safe Blood for All’. “This theme highlights the fact that safe blood is needed not only world-wide but also right here in the Western Cape,” says Michelle Vermeulen, Corporate Public Relations Officer for WCBS. “We have about 6 million people living in the Western Cape and around 75% of this population will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, yet only 1.5% are blood donors,” says Vermeulen.
The winter months can be a particularly difficult time for blood collection and WCBS would therefore like to appeal to everyone who fulfils the basic donor criteria to come and donate blood. If you are between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50kg, are healthy on the day of donation and lead a safe sexual lifestyle you should be able to donate blood. Visit www.wcbs.org.za, call 021 507 6300 or SMS ‘Blood’ to 33507 to find out where to donate.