All our blood is red - De Lille
2004-12-08 13:25
Cape Town - First-time blood donor Patricia de Lille on Wednesday appealed to all South Africans to rise above the current blood transfusion controversy and donate blood as the "silly season" drew closer.
"The colour of all our blood is red," she said, in reference to a blood row which has drawn in the presidency and the government.
The row related to the racial profiling of blood donors and the policy of the SA National Blood Service to categorise blood from black donors as high risk.
De Lille was speaking at a year-end function of the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service, where a "toys for joy" project was launched.
The project sought to collect toys and blood for children in hospital.
De Lille, the leader of the Independent Democrats, said it was a "national tragedy" to see how many people died yearly on South Africa's roads.
Can't be stockpiled
Asking South Africans to donate blood as part of the duty of being a citizen of the country, De Lille said people should not think accidents could not happen to them.
"You can be a safe driver but not safe on South Africa's roads today."
Among those present at the function were shark attack victim JP Andrew and numerous other children, particularly those with burn wounds, being treated at hospitals.
According to Marika Champion, a spokesperson for the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service, the region was doing fine at the moment with its blood stocks.
However, she said blood needed to be donated regularly because it could not be stockpiled.
Donated blood had a shelf-life of about 32 to 35 days before being discarded.
De Lille donated one pint or 475ml of blood.
- SAPA