Western Cape Blood Service's Bring a Buddy campaign seeks to bolster stocks

The Western Cape Blood Service is running a weeklong campaign with hopes of relieving the current pressure on blood stocks.

It said it has only two days’ worth of O+, O- and B+ blood type reserves.

The service’s spokesperson, Marike Carli, noted that the drop in supply can be attributed to donors taking their festive break.

She urges all donors to find their nearest pop-up clinic in a shopping mall.

"So, we always aim to have a five-day blood supply in all the respective blood groups, and we've now seen over the past two weeks blood stocks fluctuate. If you're going to the mall, just find the closest blood donation clinic.”

Carli added that part of the campaign seeks to encourage donors to bring along a blood donor buddy.

"And then bring a friend along, and at the moment, they will get a very nice beach bat set. So, that's all for our Bring a Buddy campaign."

To donate blood, the service says, you need to be 16-75 years old, weigh 50kg or more, be in good general health and lead a sexually safe lifestyle.