The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is going digital to improve the donor experience at blood donation sites nationwide.
With less than 1% of South Africans actively donating blood, the SANBS is committed to enhancing blood donation processes and attracting new donors, particularly the youth, to bolster the blood donor pool.
In preparation for the digitalisation of the donor experience and addressing the critical need for blood donations, the SANBS is hosting enhanced blood donation drives nationally, from 16 October to 3 November.
“These blood donation drives aim to maintain adequate blood stocks in the run-up to the temporary closure of donation sites on 5 and 6 November, when the SANBS will prepare its back-end system to introduce the digital medical questionnaire at all donor centre,” says Bronwyn Petersen, donor relations practitioner for the SANBS in Matjhabeng.
To further ensure that donors can give the gift of life at their convenience, during the enhanced donation period, the SANBS will extend operating hours until 19:00 at all donor centres on weekdays and weekends.
“The SANBS is moving towards digitalisation as we understand that to attract and inspire a new generation of donors, we need to leverage the power of technology. Digitalising donation sites will ensure operational efficiencies and streamline the SANBS’ administration processes by using modern customer relationship management systems to ensure donors enjoy an optimised experience,” said Siemi Prithvi-Raj, SANBS executive for transfusion donor services and marketing.
“The automated questionnaire will further assist in flagging potential issues in real-time, ensuring improved donor and blood safety,” Prithvi-Raj added.
This will improve the SANBS’ efficiency in blood collection and management and enhance the overall donor experience.
“The introduction of the digital medical questionnaire at donation sites highlights our commitment to not only go paperless across our business but also to continuously innovate and become an organisation whose operational processes are as sophisticated as our medical technology,” said Ravi Reddy, chief executive officer (CEO) at the SANBS.
This is only the beginning of the SANBS’ digitalisation journey and involves taking the first giant step in the right direction. Donors are encouraged to plan their upcoming donations around the scheduled downtime on 5 and 6 November.
“We encourage donors, especially the youth of South Africa, to help us make this a smooth transition by getting behind the enhanced donation drives and donating in their numbers. Bring a friend, colleague or even neighbour along to your next donation and help us to ensure ample blood stocks ahead of the two-day downtime planned for November,” said Reddy.
Join countless selfless individuals in making a life-saving donation during this enhanced blood donation period.
To be eligible to donate blood, one must be between the ages of 16 and 75 years, weigh more than 50 kg, and be in good health.
If you meet these requirements, find your nearest donation site by visiting the donor centre map on the SANBS’ website, or by contacting 080-011-9031 and following the SANBS on its official social media platforms: X (@theSANBS); Facebook (@SANBS), and Instagram (@thesanbs).
