On 29 November, the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) joined forces with over ten blood services on the African continent for a ground-breaking Red Saturday bleed under the slogan: ‘One day. One continent. One purpose.’.
The day was a huge success, providing a much-needed impetus for blood donation on the African continent and ensuring a cohesive, sustainable blood supply for patients in communities served.
Participant nations included South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tunisia, Senegal, Rwanda, Chad, Cameroon, and Cabo Verde.
At WCBS, 913 people attended one of our blood donation clinics, and 786 units of blood were collected. A total of 201 new donors attended, amounting to a remarkable 25.5% of all donations on the day.
The South African National Blood Service collected 4,860 units of blood, the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank collected 4,913 units, the National Blood Service in Ghana collected 1,173 units, and the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe collected 850 units, amongst others.
The success of Red Saturday has laid the foundation for what we hope will become a lasting tradition — a day when African nations come together each year to give blood, share hope, and save lives.
For more information about blood donor drives, contact Marike Carli, Manager – Public Relations (Marike@wcbs.org.za)
