INTRODUCTION
SANBS @ a Glance
INTRODUCTION
SANBS @ a Glance
Expanding our Donor Pool
We are committed to attracting younger and particularly Black donors to diversify and strengthen our active blood donor pool.
With our donor centres and mobile units operating nationwide, our goal is to collect 3,000 units of blood from South Africans each day. Currently, less than 1% of the population is active in blood donation, and we aim to increase that.
To achieve this, it is crucial for us to dispel the myths surrounding blood donation. By fostering understanding and building trust, we can encourage more individuals to step forward and make a lifesaving impact in their communities.
In 2023, 65% of blood collections from new donors were first-time Black donors, indicating a growth in the Black donor pool. This overall increase in the donor base helps reduce reliance on repeat donors and mitigates potential negative impacts on donor health.
The proportion of Black donors has significantly risen, growing from 4.1% of the donor base in 2005 to 46% in 2021, 39% in 2022, and 46.7% in 2023, with a slight decline to 43.3% in 2024. Whole blood collections from Black donors increased from 41.3% to 43.3%, while contributions from White donors decreased by 2%.
Join us in this mission—your donation can save a life!
First time blood donors [1]
First time blood donors [2]
Understanding the business of blood
Innovative Blood Collection
SANBS is at the forefront of innovative blood collection, launching impactful campaigns to broaden the donor pool and raise awareness of the life-saving power of blood donation.
The Colour of our Blood
Launched under the hashtag #TheColourOfOurBlood, this campaign celebrates our diversity while emphasising the collective power we possess to save lives. It highlights the unifying fact that all blood is red, encouraging everyone to contribute by donating blood to those in need.
We Are the Pulse
SANBS’ "We Are the Pulse" blood donation campaign aims to educate the nation on the critical importance of giving blood and its life-saving impact through a comprehensive 360-degree communication strategy.
By engaging communities and inspiring both new and existing donors, the campaign leverages multiple media platforms to create a meaningful message that emphasises the communal value of collective support and action.
Learn more about the initiative: We Are the Pulse. Watch the campaign video here.
Mall to Action
The #1Nation5000Units Mall to Action campaign, recognised as South Africa's largest single-day blood collection event, exceeded its target by securing 6,725 units of life-saving blood, with SANBS alone accounting for 5,683 units, including 2,883 units of Group O. Discover more about this incredible event: Mall to Action.
Through these innovative initiatives, SANBS is not just collecting blood; we are building a vibrant community dedicated to saving lives and promoting the vital importance of blood donation!
World-Class Blood Products
Our blood transfusion services and products are truly world-class.
The donated blood is processed into various products, such as red cell concentrates, pooled platelets from buffy coats, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate (a component rich in clotting factors), at our seven processing centres located throughout the country. Every donation is tested for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis, as well as for ABO and Rh blood types, at two state-of-the-art testing facilities in Constantia Kloof and Mount Edgecombe. Finally, the safe, tested blood products are couriered to 84 blood banks, which serve over 600 hospitals nationwide.
These blood banks provide blood for transfusions after conducting compatibility testing between the donor's and patient's blood. We invest significantly in research and training to uphold our position as one of the leading blood transfusion services globally. By adhering to the highest standards, we continuously measure and monitor our processes, ensuring the utmost safety and reliability of the blood supply.
Your trust in us means we strive for excellence every day!
100% ISO 15189 accreditation of our laboratories and Donor Centres and we are seeking ISO 9001 accreditation for our Support Services as well. Read about our other accreditations.
Our Stakeholders are Central to our Mission
Our stakeholders help ensure the sustainability of our organisation which is why we prioritise them in our strategic intent and execution.
Our stakeholders are essential to the sustainability of our organisation, and we prioritise them in both our strategic intent and execution. We deeply value each partnership, recognising that fostering trust and collaboration is key to our success.
Together, we aim to build a supportive community dedicated to saving lives!
Read more about our stakeholdersContributing to SDG’s
SANBS is committed to supporting the following sustainable development goals (SDGs) through execution of our strategic priorities.
SANBS is a significant contributor to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its core mission and operations. Regarding gender equality, over 50% of our workforce comprises women, and more than 50% of our Executive Committee and Board members are female. For quality education, we prioritise the development of our employees and the wider community by allocating substantial funds annually for educational initiatives.
Our collaborations with universities include integrating transfusion medicine into medical curricula, offering online short courses in Patient Blood Management for doctors, and establishing MoUs with local and African hospitals for training programmes. See Social Capital and Natural Capital for details.
By actively supporting these goals, we demonstrate our commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen, positively impacting our communities and fostering a sustainable future!