Why give blood

We need to make sure that we have enough supplies of all blood groups and blood products to treat all types of conditions in health facilities.

By giving blood, every donor helps us meet the challenge of providing life-saving products whenever and wherever they are needed in Health facilities.

Maintaining the blood supply

We need to maintain a regular supply of all blood groups and products so we can provide it to the hospitals and patients who need it.

We sometimes need to target specific blood types to increase stock levels. That's why we sometimes contact regular donors with the particular blood type we need, and ask them to give blood. We are indebted to our regular blood donors for their role in helping us to save lives.

Rare blood types

O Rh negative blood is rare but essential because it is the only blood type that can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type.

Blood components

Your blood's main components are red cells, plasma and platelets. These are used to treat many different illnesses and conditions.

They have a short shelf life, so we always need to top up the supply:
red blood cells can be stored for up to 35 days
plasma can be stored for up to a year
platelets can be stored for up to 7 days