Our Capitals
Our social and relationship capital: Building trust; supporting sustainable development
Our Capitals
Our social and relationship capital: Building trust; supporting sustainable development
As a non-profit organisation, SANBS is dedicated to the safe delivery of blood to patients in need. Our social capital underpins our life-saving mission to provide crucial blood products and services. By ‘Serving with Heart’ and adopting a customer-centric approach, we build trust and strengthen relationships with donors, patients, and healthcare partners.
This commitment allows us to make a positive impact on South African lives. Through collaboration and active engagement, we create an inclusive environment that emphasises community support and our dedication to the welfare of all. This prioritisation enhances our ability to deliver timely, life-saving solutions while promoting a healthier, more resilient South Africa.
Social capital is essential for facilitating collaboration, mobilising critical resources, raising awareness, and creating a positive societal impact. It underpins our mission to provide reliable blood products and services to patients in need.
At SANBS, the connections and trust we cultivate with all our stakeholders—including blood donors, volunteers, partners, and the wider community—are central to our mission. People are what truly make the difference, so we prioritise building strong, trustworthy relationships, particularly with our donors and patients. We ensure equitable treatment for everyone, irrespective of their background and origin.
We also focus on the health and engagement of our blood donors. Our initiatives include programmes designed to maintain their iron levels, which is crucial for their well-being.
Additionally, we actively engage with the community to promote blood donation, inviting students to our facilities to inspire younger generations to get involved. Our commitment extends to those who rely on blood on emergency bases, including new mothers, accident victims, and ICU patients. We have incorporated smart fridges for blood storage—a cutting-edge solution that enhances our ability to deliver blood swiftly to urgent needs, such as maternal health that may be at risk during childbirth.
SANBS is dedicated to helping achieve global goals through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, which focus on improving economic, environmental, and social conditions. We do this through our key strategic priorities.
Good Health and Well-being
Increased life expectancy, access to health services
SANBS aims to be a key part of healthcare in South Africa by providing life-saving blood services.
We understand that blood donations are essential for the well-being of our communities. To ensure everyone in the country can access the blood they need, we have built a wide network that includes two advanced testing labs, 84 blood banks, 70 fixed donor centres, seven processing centres, and 25 mobile units that collect blood across eight of the nine provinces.
See manufactured capital and social and relationship capital.
Creating donor awareness through education
We organise education sessions for students at schools, usually during Life Orientation classes or school assemblies. These sessions explain who can donate blood, raise awareness about HIV, and share information about blood products and the medical conditions they help treat. In FY25, we held 1 396 donor education sessions, mainly led by our trained donor educators across seven regions (compared to 1,121 sessions in the previous year).
SANBS prioritises donor well-being
At SANBS, we care about more than just collecting blood; we are also committed to helping our donors stay healthy and informed about diseases. We want to build a trusting relationship with our donors, focusing on their well-being.
Donor wellness is our top priority, emphasised through the SANBS Wellness Programme. This initiative includes a digital education programme that shares useful and relatable health information, and providing iron supplements to help improve donors' iron levels with minimal side effects. SANBS also offers confidential post-donation counselling, including HIV-related counselling for donors that test positive, to ensure donors are fully supported in both their physical and emotional well-being.
To ensure a safe donation experience, our Collections teams receive regular training to handle any unexpected situations. We have an adverse event management system, supported by a Board-approved policy to alleviate financial hardship in rare instances where donors experience adverse effects following blood donation.
Our holistic approach to employee wellness
At SANBS, we focus on the complete well-being of our employees by addressing their physical, mental, and financial health. Our "Better Me" campaign helps us keep track of chronic health issues, allowing for early detection and action. We raise awareness about mental health through educational programmes and discussions based on topics from our Employee Assistance Programme.
We work with Alexander Forbes to offer financial wellness resources, including guidance on the two-pot retirement system, helping employees make smart choices for a secure future.