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Press Release

World Blood Donor Day is designed to raise awareness of the need for safe blood across the globe and the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is hosting a number of donation clinics on Thursday, 14 June 2007 to encourage new donors and to thank those who help them make a difference.

While the need for blood is universal, access to blood for those who need it is not. According to the four key partners of World Blood Donor Day (World Health Organisation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Federation of Blood Donor Organisations and International Society of Blood Transfusion), women and children in low-income countries have the greatest need for blood, hence the 2007 theme — Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood.

More than 500 000 women die every year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth — 99% of these deaths happen in developing countries. In Africa, the risk of maternal death is as high as 1 in 16 (compared to 1 in 65 in Asia and 1 in 2700 in North America) and severe bleeding contributes to up to 44% of maternal deaths.

Up to 70% of all blood transfusions in Africa are given to children with severe anaemia due to malaria, which accounts for about one in five of all childhood deaths on the continent.

South Africa is internationally recognised has having two of the most sophisticated blood transfusion services in the world.

Changing these statistics starts with one donation and the WPBTS urges all eligible donors to attend one of the World Blood Donor Day clinics in their area.

Any person older than 17 years, weighing more than 50kg who leads safe and healthy lifestyle (sexual and otherwise) can donate blood. Donors must remember to have something to eat before attending the clinic.

For more information, contact the Western Province Blood Transfusion Services on tel (021) 507 6300, e-mail info@wpbts.org.za or visit www.wpblood.org.za