The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) needs to collect 700 units of blood daily to meet the needs of patients in the Western Cape and with less than 1.5% of the provincial population donating, it remains a constant challenge.  Even in this technologically advanced era, there is still no artificial replacement for blood.

The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) has been hard at work during National Blood Donor Month to ensure that a blood shortage is avoided. However, with all efforts in place it seems that the cold and wet weather is keeping donors away.

The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is celebrating World Blood Donor Day with various other countries on 14 June. This celebration serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, as well as thank donors for their remarkable life-saving gift. 

The WP Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is a non-profit, independent, health care organisation that works throughout the Western Cape to collect and supply safe, sufficient blood to all communities of the region.  It’s one of two Blood Services in South Africa and the only one of its kind in the Western Cape.

On 01 March 2012 all the provisions of the National Health Act, Act 61 of 2003, (“the Act”) came into effect and accordingly the Minister in terms of section 90(1) read with section 68(1) promulgated Regulation GNR. 180 of 2 March 2012: Regulations: General control of human bodies, tissue, blood, blood products and gametes (Government Gazette No.35099) (“Regulation 180”). In terms of Regulation 180 read with section 56 of the Act, blood may not be withdrawn from persons under the age of 18 years (“minors”) without consent from the parent/guardian of minors.

The hunt is on – not for Easter eggs – but for blood donors!  The April school holiday and Easter weekend is traditionally a difficult blood collection period.  For this reason the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is urging the Western Cape to donate blood.

Each year WPBTS set up blood donation clinics at educational institution.  The majority of schools host blood donation clinics once every term.  These clinics are well attended but due to various reasons (big sporting events, new tattoos, a new sexual partner, colds or flu) the deferral rate is much higher at these clinics than others.

The Western Cape’s group B blood supply is under severe pressure and has reached a level of a mere 1 to 2 days.  

The decline in blood stocks for this particular group can be attributed to higher usage and a decrease in collection of blood group B.  WPBTS is worried that it will be in crisis by the following week if over and above the desired stocks are not collected.

The WP Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) invites its donors, as well as potential donors, to #ShareYourHeart by partaking in its Instagram competition during February.

“As Instagram is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, WPBTS has decided to embrace the platform which will enable the Service to communicate in real time using Instagram Stories and Instagram Live,” says Marlize van der Merwe, WPBTS Spokesperson. “This platform also presents WPBTS with an opportunity to educate its followers on the inner workings of the Service.”

The WP Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) wishes to thank its blood donors for the support received during the Festive Season.

“We received remarkable support from the Western Cape, permanent residence and visitors alike,” says Marlize van der Merwe, WPBTS Spokesperson.