AS thousands of people are continuing to hit the road going to their homes for the Easter weekend, road accidents are also anticipated to happen.
As always, most accident victims may need blood transfusion when they get to hospital to save their lives. The Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament and shadow minister for the presidency, Solly Malatsi has taken it upon himself to constantly donate blood.
Malatsi from Ga-Dikgale village outside Polokwane in Limpopo spent his Thursday (1 April) in Polokwane donating his blood. He said he started donating blood in 2020 to help the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) with collecting blood to help save lives.
“I realised the SANBS was in a serious shortage of blood. Blood is needed especially during Easter Holidays, long weekends and the festive season as most people are on the roads,” he said.
Malatsi told Daily Sun he donates blood every six weeks. Even though he believes there may not be a lot of road accidents this Easter holidays due to the revised level 1 lockdown restrictions, he encourages ordinary people and leaders to donate blood as it is the most precious gift anyone can give to another person.
“Thousands of patients would die daily if there is insufficient quality of blood in stock. When one donates blood, they give patients the gift money can’t buy. As leaders in our communities we should lead by example and that includes taking courses that would save our people’s lives. Let’s play our part to help save lives by donating blood,” he said.
A unit of blood can save up to three lives as blood is separated into red cells, plasma and platelets. The SANBS aims to collect 3 000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system.
