Annually during June, South Africans celebrate National Blood Donor Month, while countries worldwide celebrate World Blood Donor Day on 14 June.
Worldwide the theme for World Blood Donor Day is “thank you for saving my life”. This theme focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their selfless act of donating blood. The aim is also to encourage more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.
Encouraging people to donate blood regularly and voluntarily is quite a challenge in itself. The WP Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) places much emphasis on regular blood donors. Regular blood donors are identified as those donors who donate blood at least twice a year. It has been found that regular donors are the safest source of blood donations.
The 2011 Census indicated that the Western Cape has a population of approximately five million people. Sadly, less than 1.2% of the community in our region donates blood. This is a worrying statistic, as further research indicated that at least 75% of Western Cape inhabitants might need a blood transfusion during their lifetime.
In an attempt to increase awareness of National Blood Donor Month, World Blood Donor Day, general blood donation and blood safety, WPBTS will be hosting a road show with our big red blood bus, the Blood Buzz.
“WPBTS invites all to partake in our celebration as we travel around the Western Cape to various destinations”, says Marlize van der Merwe, WPBTS Spokesperson. The Bus will be visible at the following venues during June:
|
Date |
Venue |
Time |
|
02 June |
Cape Gate Shopping Centre, Brackenfell |
10:00 – 15:30 |
|
03 June |
Blue Route Mall, Tokai |
10:00 – 15:30 |
|
04 June |
N1 City Mall, Goodwood |
10:00 – 15:30 |
|
05 June |
Promenade Mall, Mitchells Plain |
10:00 – 15:30 |
|
08 June |
Queens Mall, Oudtshoorn |
12:00 – 16:00 |
|
09 June |
Knysna Mall |
11:00 – 16:00 |
|
10 June |
Langeberg Mall, Mossel Bay |
10:00 – 15:00 |
|
11 June |
Plett Mall, Plettenberg Bay |
11:00 – 17:00 |
|
12 June |
Redefine Boulevard, York Street, George |
10:00 – 14:00 |
|
15 June |
DR Church, Andries Pretorius Street, Somerset West |
14:00 – 19:00 |
|
17 June |
DR Church, Uitsig Street, Langebaan |
13:00 – 19:00 |
|
18 June |
Paarl Mall |
10:00 – 16:00 |
|
19 June |
Techno Park, Stellenbosch |
10:00 – 15:00 |
|
23 June |
DR Church, Hofmeyer Street, Grabouw |
16:00 – 19:00 |
|
24 June |
Mountain Mill Mall, Worcester |
11:30 – 17:00 |
|
25 June |
Grobbelaar Hall, Marine Drive, Hermanus |
14:30 – 19:00 |
The ideal of the road show is to increase the number of new donors throughout the Western Cape, as well as reinstate former donors.
Furthermore, in an international Campaign NexcareTM partners will local blood donation services to promote the importance of blood donation, and to encourage consumers to pledge their support by giving blood during National Blood Donor Month. Every WPBTS donor who donates during June will receive a special plaster. As NexcareTM states, “small gifts can make all the difference”.
Blood donation takes about 20 to 30 minutes of your time every 56 days. It requires you to be between the age of 16 and 65, weigh over 50kgs, be in good general health and lead a safe sexual lifestyle. It does not cause you any bodily harm, since only 475ml’s of blood is taken, which is replaced within 24 hours.