Blood donors awarded

Gallery Update Video

GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - At their annual donor recognition award gala dinner held at Fancourt on Friday 2 February, the Western Province Cape Blood Transfusion Services (WPBTS) honoured the donors from the Southern Cape who together had donated over 5 000 units of blood.

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Financial Director of WPBTS Nicky du Toit thanked all the donors who had reached the milestone of 150 units (or more) for their unselfish contribution.

"Together you have saved the lives of over 15 000 patients.

"WPBTS needs to collect 700 units of blood daily, which amounts to 160 000 units annually, which benefits more than 490 000 people," said Du Toit.

Drought impact
Du Toit told the gathering that the drought in Cape Town has far-reaching repercussions for the WPBTS.

"I don't like using the word 'disaster', but if the taps are closed on day zero we may find that the number of donors in the city may drop.

"The mobile units that use church halls, schools and community facilities as their base may have to be temporarily grounded, which will mean that there will be no amenities for the donors," she said.

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Hospital patients may be forced to go to other provinces for their operations.

The provincial hospitals have informed the WPBTS that from day zero they will be curtailing their planned operations until the situation normalises.

The hospitals will focus on emergency operations to save lives only.

Du Toit told the George Herald the problem will be exacerbated, not only by the drop in stock of blood units, but also by the expected fall in demand for blood.

"We are an NGO that is not profit driven but service orientated, and we depend on the sale of blood to keep the doors open. The running expenses will remain constant."

Ronald Davids, manager of WPBTS George (left) and Nicky du Toit, financial director of WPBTS (right), congratulate Jeffrey Swartz, Koos Cronjé, Neville Myburgh, Randolph Young and Frances Warner for donating blood 225 times.

Easy with app
The WPBTS appeals to people serviced by the George and Worcester branches that are not affected by the drought, to come forward in greater numbers to help reduce the anticipated shortfall in blood stocks to adequately service the Western Cape.

WPBTS boasts with a first-of-its-kind blood donation app called WP Blood, available at App stores, that makes it convenient to donate blood and save lives.