Blood Beat

Transcription

Blood Beat
BLOOD
BEAT
Issue 4 | www.sanbs.org.za
what happens to
your blood donation?
eat right for
your blood type
A donor’s guide
to haemoglobin
Meet Misisizwe Khoza
donate BLOOD
Donate a LIFEtime
If you have any q ues ti on s,
comments o r o p i ni o n s on bl ood
donati o n, p l ease su bm i t th em to:
TEAM
COVER
THE EDITOR
DESIGN
Marketing & Communications
Division SANBS
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Weltevreden Park
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www.sanbs.org.za
[email protected]
Toll free no.: 0800 11 9031
CONTRIBUTORS
Ludwe Matanzima
Silungile Mlambo
Anna Raselomane
Karin van den Berg
Rethubile Melato
Sifiso Khoza
Natalie Booysen
Nina van Wyk
Bronwyn Peterson
William Gallacher
PRINTED BY
Thrift Productions | An offspring of Roering Creative KIn
The mission of the South African National Blood Service is to provide all patients
with sufficient, safe, quality blood products and medical services related to blood
transfusion in an equitable and cost-effective manner.
SANBS is a not-for-profit organisation and receives no funding from government
or other private organisations. SANBS has 27 branches and 80 collection sites.
SANBS manages the blood supply and provides products and services to South
African patients in all provinces except the Western Cape.
BLOOD BEAT is published for donors by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any form without the written permission of the Editor.
While every effort has been taken in the production of this publication, the Publisher,
Editor and Contributors accept no responsibility for any omissions or errors.
EXTRAORDINARY STORIES
F ROM DONORS AND RECIPI ENTS
CONTENTS
Feature articles
Health News
07 | Insider: Meet Misisizwe Khoza
09 | Managing Diabetes
13 | SANBS Iron study Donors guide
to Haemoglobin
11 | What is Haemoglobin
Regulars
19 | Because anybody can:
DIY 15 uses of toothpaste
01 | Message from the CEO
13 | Donor feedback
03 | Editor’s note
On The Calendar
04 | Letter to the editor
02 | Count down to the New Year
05 | Milestone achievers
25 | Events
06 | What happens to your
blood donation
Cuisine
21 | In the zones
27 | Competition winners
15 | Cooking up a storm
Fun page
26 | Crossword puzzle
from the CEO
...it is heart warming to
experience the totally
unselfish actions of
regular South Africans.
As the new CEO of SANBS, I have been
amazed by the quality of our people and
I know that there may be challenges
sometimes but I want to assure you
that we are privileged to be a part of an
organization whose sole focus is saving
our fellow South African’s lives.
Saving lives is impossible without you
our loyal donors. I have spent my first
few months having visited a number
of donor and mobile centres, it is heart
warming to experience the totally
unselfish actions of regular South
Africans. Thanks you all.
I come to you from a corporate
environment, with many, many years
of interacting with customers and staff
alike. I am married to a loving wife with
28 year old twin boys all of whom have
truly enriched my life.
I want to encourage you to email us on
[email protected] to share
your thoughts on anything related to
our service and how we can improve,
or take advantage of our Customer
Feedback System at the donation site.
It is only with feedback that we can
improve ourselves.
1
Once again thank you all for your total
commitment to SANBS and I hope to see
you in one of our collection points in
the future.
Until later...
Regards
Trevor
Count down to the
Whether you want to lose weight, stop
smoking, or accomplish another goal,
unfortunately, many of these resolutions
are forgotten by March. A major reason
for this is that it’s deceptively difficult to
develop or deny ingrained habits.
While the effort to adopt resolution shows
a wonderful sense of positive intent,
a better alternative is to develop new
goals for the future.
Goals are a better plan than resolutions
for a few key reasons:
Rigid vs. Fluid:
Resolutions stay the same: “I will go to
bed by 10pm.” “I will stop eating junk.”
“I will go to the gym five times a week.”
If these are somewhat big changes,
it may feel like a huge change with no
build up. Goals, however, can be tackled
in steps, beginning with baby steps and
increasing in difficulty as you become more
accustomed to the change.
This makes goals more realistic
for lasting change.
Sense of Accomplishment
vs. Sense of Failure:
on the right track, which will, in turn, keep
you moving in the right direction. Once
you’ve broken a rigid resolution, however,
it’s easier to feel like a failure and give up.
Think in terms of broad
The Scope of the Change:
For instance, resolving to “Develop A
Stress Management Practice” gives more
room for growth and change than “Do Yoga
Every Morning”. While you’ll want to put
your broad goals into specific behaviours,
deciding to Develop a Stress Management
Practice gives you room to experiment,
and allows you to change course if you find
that Yoga isn’t working for you.
Resolutions are usually a means to a goal,
but if you find a resolution too difficult to
stick to, it’s usually dropped and forgotten.
With goals, if you find a planned change
too difficult to carry out, you can drop that
plan, but pick a different new behaviour
to try that will still lead to the same end
result, and not lose sight of the goal.
For example, imagine you want to get
in the habit of exercising to be in better
shape. You might make a resolution to go
to the gym five times a week. But if you find
that you just hate the gym, you probably
won’t stick to your resolution, and you’ll
be no closer to your goal. However, if you
make ‘getting more exercise’ the goal, you
may drop the gym, but switch to walking
through your neighbourhood each morning,
and still meet your goal.
Now that you know some of why
resolutions often fail and goals are a more
realistic route, here are some tips for
setting goals you can get behind:
Keep your future in mind.
Think of what you would have in your ideal
life, and where you’d like to be in two, five,
or even ten years, and see if your goals
bring you closer to that picture. If so,
they’re good goals to stick with. If you can
keep in your mind the image of where you
would ultimately like your goals to take
you, it’s easier to stick with them.
Goals give you a direction to aspire to, but
with the baby steps you may be taking
toward your goal, you can still feel like
you’ve accomplished something and are
2
changes rather than
specific behaviours
Think in terms of what
you’d like to add to your
life, rather than what
you’d like to take away.
For example, instead of making the goal
to “Eat Less Unhealthy Food”, focus on
trying to“Eat More Healthy Food”. You
may subconsciously feel more deprived
if you think of taking something away
rather than adding something good, and
if you replace unhealthy food in your
diet with healthy food, the same goal is
accomplished. Also, it’s usually easier to
add a behaviour than to stop a behaviour.
Once you have your goals set, keep them
in the forefront of your mind. Keep them
listed in your day-planner, have them as
part of your screen saver, or post-it them
in prominent places around your house for
a while. Reward yourself with something
small for continuing to stick with it, until
you make enough progress toward your
goals that the progress becomes its
own reward. And remember that change
doesn’t come overnight, but as you work
toward developing what is important to
you, the change will come, and it will be
lasting. Remember this, and enjoy building
the life you were meant to live!
Source: pittsburgh.about.com
It’s that time
of the year again,
when we make
resolutions of things
we wish to change
in the new year.
the Editor
It is with great excitement that I introduce the newly revamped magazine
to you. “Out with old and in with the new” is the approach we are taking this
year. We have changed the “look and feel”, bringing a fresh lifestyle feel.
The end of another year is here, and as we celebrate this holiday season
we reflect back on what a great year it has been. With blood stock levels
fluctuating up and down - we have weathered the storms. A big thank you to
all our donors for keeping us afloat, the need for blood never stops.
In this issue we will also be keeping you abreast of industry news. We also
honour donors who have reached milestones, review books and give you a
countdown to the holidays.
This is also an exciting year for SANBS, as we welcome our new CEO Mr Trevor
Vroom and look forward to an exciting future under his leadership.
As we look forward to the festive season, let us remember to be safe
on the roads.
Enjoy the read!
Write to us at [email protected] and stand a chance to win
a personalised SANBS hamper, which includes a cup with your
name and blood type, a t-shirt and cap with your blood type
and a notebook.
“Out wi th the old and in w it h t h e n ew ”
i s th e a pproach we’re takin g t h is y ear
3
TO the editor
Why I d on ate by Th oma s L a a s :
Our world is diverse and full of uniqueness. Yet there is one thing common
among all of us who live on this planet, and it runs through our veins. It
crosses borders, spans continents and unifies people on a level that nothing
else can. It gives life but lack of it can take it away life just as easily. This is
why I donate, this is why I face my fears and this is why I never let life come
in the way of life.
Every so often I get the opportunity to visit one half of my family in Dubai,
UAE. Emirates, the company that my dad works for, provides me two tickets
a year to go and visit this magnificent city. Just before I went I donated and
the gift that came along with the donation was a pair of simple and elegant
black sunglasses with the SANBS logo and name stamped on the side. Of
course going to an extremely hot and sunny country I would definitely make
use of them. I am also an avid photographer and when the opportunity
presented itself I could not resist seizing the moment.
So on the beach with the only 7-star hotel in the world, the Burj Al-Arab,
in the background I took some still shots of the sunglasses on the sand
and shells. The simplistic design of the sunglasses contrasted very nicely
against the complex textures and patterns on the shells. I cannot wait to
see what other gifts the SANBS has to bring that share the same design
philosophy and style as this one did.
4
BLOOD BEAT
MR Riaan Fourie
Mr Andrew Killick
MR James Trace
95
100
100
Donated his 95th Unit of blood
at Boksburg Blood Bank Supervisor.
Donated his 100th unit of blood
at the Richards Bay Donor Centre.
Donated his 100th unit of blood
at the Braampark Donor Centre.
Mr Joseph Gouws
Mr Kobus Brink
MR Graham Felton
200
250
250
Donated his 200th Unit of blood
at the Uitenhage Donor Centre.
Donated his 250th unit of blood
at our Victorian Square Donor Centre.
Donated his 250th unit of blood
at the Colony Shopping Centre.
5
with Misisizwe Khoza
Misisizwe is a 15 year old boy from KwaZulu Natal, currently doing grade 9 at Maritzburg
College. Looking at him you see a bright young man, full of smiles and zest for life.
Melisizwe was diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of 13 years, but he has not let
that get in his way of life. Thanks to blood donor’s he can continue to tell his story.
Where does all this energy
come from?
It’s more of a personality than energy.
I could run a marathon and still
be as “zesty” as I am described.
What time does your day start?
A normal school day begins at 5am
every morning, although I prefer
to sleep in on weekends.
What is the very first thing
you do when you get up?
I have a glass of water,
and then take a shower.
What makes you different from other 15
year olds in your opinion?
Through simple eyes the difference is
that I have cancer, but in my opinion, the
real difference is that I am proud of it and
not ashamed of it. I was diagnosed with
cancer on 03 June 2013 around 10:00am
“You tend to remember details that
change your life” he adds with a smile.
What do you find most challenging
about living with cancer?
For me every day is a blessing, the
fact that I wake up to a new day every
morning. I prefer to focus on the bright
side of things.
When were you introduced
to SANBS and How?
SANBS helped me in more ways than
one, besides providing blood for me
when I needed it most, they’ve given
me a lifeline with opportunities. I also
encourage others to donate and save
lives just like mine.
What are your future plans?
I hope to be an SANBS ambassador,
encouraging people to donate blood, but
I also want to use my story to influence
other patients (cancer and otherwise)
who aren’t as optimistic as I am, not
to give up on life. No illness is a death
sentence. People just need to focus
more on the beauty of life.
What do you want
to be when you grow up?
My primary passion is acting, I love
drama and entertaining people.
I have a talent for that sort of thing.
Considering the unpredictability of that
career path, I also wish to study and
be an accountant. My ultimate goal is
happiness, should I fail at that, I shall
have failed at everything.
7
What is it that you fear the most
in life (worst fear)?
Not making my mother proud, after
all the nonsense I put her through
on a daily basis, I owe it to her to make
her the an envy of all mothers around
the world. That’s what I strive for.
If you could, what would you change
in/about your life?
If I could change anything, I would make
it possible to download food. Other than
that I’m satisfied.
How do you spend
your time outside school?
When I’m not at chemotherapy, I like
playing sports and Xbox with my
friends. I make it a point to keep busy
when I’m off because chemotherapy
is more than enough rest for me.
We have noticed that you are
a very positive person, when
did you realise you had a calling?
Who is your role model?
Will Smith, I have great respect for him
and his craft. He has always been my
favourite actor and I aspire to be like
him one day.
Do you prefer local
or international holidays?
Well I’ve never been out of the country,
so local is lekker.
Music, what genre do you listen to?
I listen to pretty much everything from
hip hop to rock. I like to keep up with
the best in local and international news.
Entertainment: movies or soap operas?
Movies, I love watching movies, be it at a
cinema or in the comfort of my own home.
Sports: Soccer or Rugby?
I love playing both sports,
but I prefer watching soccer.
What is your favourite dish?
Any dish with meat on it.
I’m crazy about meat.
What is your motto in life?
It’s always impossible until it’s done,
inspired by the late N.R Mandela
What do you have to say to blood
donors this festive season?
There’s always a life in danger,
therefore there’s always a need for
blood. Whether it’s the satisfaction
of knowing you saved someone’s
life or the juice and biscuits (laughs)
keep going back. There are thousands
of people just like me who appreciate
what you do. The only gift better than
donating blood is bringing a friend to
donate with you. Let’s encourage giving
this Christmas; if you don’t already give
blood, it’s never too late. Donate blood,
donate a lifeline.
“
I was diagnosed with cancer on 03 June 2013 around 10:00am.
You tend to remember details that change your life.
8
MANAGING
Symptoms of diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include
excessive thirst, increased
urination, weight loss and fatigue.
It is important to recognise these
symptoms as, left untreated, diabetes
can cause coma and even death
There are three
types of diabetes
1 | Type 1 diabetes
The body does not produce insulin.
Some people may refer to this type as
insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile
diabetes, or early-onset diabetes.
People usually develop type 1
diabetes before their 40th year, often
in early adulthood or teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near
as common as type 2 diabetes.
Approximately 10% of all diabetes
cases are type 1.
Patients with type 1 diabetes will
need to take insulin injections for
the rest of their lives. They must also
ensure proper blood-glucose levels
by carrying out regular blood tests
and following a special diet.
9
The body does not produce enough
insulin for proper function, or the cells
in the body do not react to insulin
(insulin resistance).
Approximately 90% of all cases
of diabetes worldwide are type 2.
Measuring the glucose level
in blood.
Some people may be able to control
their type 2 diabetes symptoms by
losing weight, following a healthy
diet, doing plenty of exercise, and
monitoring their blood glucose levels.
However, type 2 diabetes is typically a
progressive disease - it gradually gets
worse - and the patient will probably
end up having to take insulin, usually
in tablet form.
Overweight and obese people have a
much higher risk of developing type
2 diabetes compared to those with
a healthy body weight. People with
a lot of visceral fat, also known as
central obesity, belly fat, or abdominal
obesity, are especially at risk. Being
overweight/obese causes the body to
release chemicals that can destabilize
the body’s cardiovascular and
metabolic systems.
Being overweight, physically inactive
and eating the wrong foods all
contribute to our risk of developing
type 2 diabetes. The risk of
developing type 2 diabetes is also
greater as we get older.
diets before becoming pregnant were
high in animal fat and cholesterol had
a higher risk for gestational diabetes,
compared to their counterparts
whose diets were low in cholesterol
and animal fats.
3 | Gestational diabetes
Controlling diabetes
This type affects females during
pregnancy. Some women have very
high levels of glucose in their blood,
and their bodies are unable to
produce enough insulin to transport
all of the glucose into their cells,
resulting in progressively
rising levels of glucose.
Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is
made during pregnancy.
The majority of gestational diabetes
patients can control their diabetes
with exercise and diet. Between
10% to 20% of them will need to
take some kind of blood-glucosecontrolling medications. Undiagnosed
or uncontrolled gestational diabetes
can raise the risk of complications
during childbirth. The baby may be
bigger than he/she should be.
Scientists from the National
Institutes of Health and Harvard
University found that women whose
Treatment is effective and important
All types of diabetes are treatable.
Diabetes type 1 lasts a lifetime, there
is no known cure. Type 2 usually lasts
a life time, however, some people have
managed to get rid of their symptoms
without medication, through a
combination of exercise, diet
and body weight control.
Special diets can help sufferers
of type 2 diabetes control
the condition.
Patients with type 1 are treated with
regular insulin injections, as well as a
special diet and exercise.
Patients with Type 2 diabetes are
usually treated with tablets, exercise
and a special diet, but sometimes
insulin injections are also required.
If diabetes is not adequately controlled
the patient has a significantly higher
risk of developing complications.
Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes
a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood
glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate,
or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.
10
Source: National Diabetes Education Program / ndep.nih.gov
2 | Type 2 diabetes
What is
This special molecule is a type of protein found
in every red blood cell in your body.
What is it is, how it works,
and why your levels matter
Your blood is red because of
haemoglobin. This special molecule
is a type of protein found in every
red blood cell in your body. Each
one contains about 270 million
molecules of haemoglobin and
each molecule can bind with up
to four oxygen molecules – the
crucial element your body relies
on to survive. In the lungs, oxygen
attaches to the haem part of the
haemoglobin molecule and is then
taken by the body’s circulatory
system to the tissues and organs
where cells use the oxygen to
release energy.
Red blood cells are made in bones
that contain bone marrow mainly in
the pelvis and long bones but also
the ribs, vertebrae, sternum and
cranium. If not enough red blood cells
are produced, or they do not contain
enough haemoglobin to bind with
oxygen, anaemia may develop. This
means the body can’t supply enough
oxygen to its tissues, causing
symptoms like severe tiredness.
One of the causes of anaemia can
be low iron levels, which affects the
production of haemoglobin.
11
Iron and haemoglobin
Human haemoglobin is a complicated
molecule consisting of four major
units, each containing a smaller
‘haem’ group. This group contains a
single iron atom, held in the centre
of a square made up of four nitrogen
atoms, and exists at the heart of
an array of organic rings called a
porphyrin. It is this iron that binds
oxygen and enables haemoglobin to
do its job. And it’s the porphyrin that
gives blood its red colour.
Most people have 4 to 5 grams of
iron in their bodies. Of this, up to 2.5
g is contained in haemoglobin and
most of the rest (approximately 2
grams in adult men, and somewhat
less in women of childbearing age)
is stored as ferritin, the major iron
storage protein of the body. Ferritin
complexes are present in all cells, but
are most common in bone marrow,
liver and spleen. The liver’s stores of
ferritin are the body’s primary source
of reserve iron. In blood donors stores
of iron tend to be slightly lower.
Each day approximately 1mg of iron
can be absorbed from food as long as
the diet contains sufficient iron in it
(see box). However, most of the body’s
iron comes from recycling.
All the following are
good sources of iron:
Every day we use about 20mg of
iron to make new red cells to replace
the old worn out cells. During its
approximately four-month lifespan,
the human red blood cell travels
around 300 miles, making about
170,000 circuits through the heart.
Cells get damaged on these repeated
journeys, which is why the body
breaks them down and replaces
them regularly.
Lean red meat, turkey and chicken
Your iron levels
Pulses and beans - in particular canned
baked beans, chickpeas and lentils
When you give blood it’s important
you have enough iron stores to be
able to make up what you lose when
you donate. That’s why we test
your blood every time you come to a
session. Your haemoglobin levels will
naturally change throughout the year,
so don’t be discouraged if your levels
are too low to donate at one session.
By the next time you come, they may
have completely recovered and you’ll
be able to donate.
Boost your
haemoglobin levels
Everyone needs iron in their diet
to maintain healthy levels of
haemoglobin. Keep up your levels
by eating three portions of food
containing iron every day.
Liver
Fish, particularly oily fish which can be
frozen or canned (such as mackerel,
sardines or pilchards)
Eggs
Breakfast cereals - some cereals have
been fortified with iron
Nuts (including peanut butter)
and seeds
Brown rice
Tofu
Bread, especially wholemeal
or brown bread
Leafy green vegetables, especially
curly kale, watercress and broccoli
Dried fruits – in particular dried apricots,
raisins and prunes
Source: www.medicinenet.com ; www.lhsc.on.ca
Red cells
Donor
Background
Study Results
Research was undertaken that shows
repeated blood donations may, in some
donors, result in a gradual iron depletion
and anaemia. Iron plays an important role
in the body. Having too little is associated
with various problems, including chronic
fatigue and low energy levels.
At the end of a 2-month enrolment
period, we were able to successfully
collect, test and trace samples from
4412 donors. The distribution of these
donors closely resembles the general
distribution among the various Zones
and provinces in South Africa (Figure 2).
Blood donation is usually followed by the
replacement of iron over a period of time.
If insufficient time is allowed for recovery,
a gradual drop in iron occurs. Over time, if
the donor is not able to replace all the iron
he or she lost during the donation, the
iron in the main storage compartment
starts dropping. Once a point is reached
where the iron in red blood cells is low,
iron is almost completely depleted in the
rest of the body. See below.
Figure 2.
Participants by Zone and Gender:
Figure 1. Iron storage in the body:
A | Normal Iron Stores
Storage
Transit
Red Cells
B | Iron deficient red cell production
Storage
Transit
Red Cells
C | Iron deficiency anaemia
Storage
Transit
Red Cells
In response to heightening general
awareness with regards to donor
health, SANBS and WPBTS embarked
on a collaborative study during the
latter half of 2014 to assess the iron
status of South African blood donors.
Egoli
Northern
Vaal
KZN
FS/NC
East Cape
West Prov
Mpumalanga
432
425
318
291
246
207
217
187
403
370
267
255
215
223
187
169
The majority of the donors who
participated in the study were repeat
donors, 66% had donated at least one
unit within the 6 months preceding the
study and about 35% had donated more
than 7 times in the preceding 24 months.
As part of this study we assessed
donors’ haemoglobin (Hb) levels which
are a measure of the iron in the red
blood cells, as well as serum-ferritin
levels which are a measure of the
body’s total iron stores. Within SANBS
13
we use an Hb-level of 12.5 mg/dl as
the lower limit of normal and as we do
not routinely measure ferritin we used
the national levels which are 20 µg/dl
for men and 12 µg/dl for women.
With regards to Hb levels we found
that, as expected, men have on
average a higher haemoglobin level
compared to females and that overall,
the Hb level for the study population
was well within the normal rage.
Donors who were deferred (and
therefore had 0 donations) had Hb levels
below 12 g/dl (as expected as these
donors were deferred for low Hb).
In male donors there was a clear trend
that the more frequently they donated
the lower their Hb, but that overall, it
was still within the accepted range.
Along the same vein we noted that the
longer the period between donations,
the higher the donors’ Hb were. This
was true for both males and females.
The ferritin levels, i.e. the measure of the
overall body iron stores, showed similar
trends to that of the Hb measurements.
Again, men generally had higher ferritin
levels compared to women, in both
genders ferritin levels decreased among
donors with a high donation frequency
while the ferritin levels increased if
the inter-donation interval increased.
Among men, increasing age and
The South African Blood Donor Iron Study – Karin van den Berg
frequent donations, the drop in ferritin
levels were much more pronounced than
among female donors.
Iron deficiency is not the only cause of
anaemia, but in terms of blood donation,
it certainly is the most important.
Overall, around 6% of female donors had
a low Hb but a normal ferritin level. This
may be due to the BTS using a higher
cut-off for Hb measurement among
females than the national average,
but may in part be due to other as yet
unidentified deficiencies among these
donors. Importantly, 16% of male and
9% of female donors had normal Hbs
but with low ferritin levels. These are
the cases where the body stores are
low, but there is enough iron left for the
red blood cells. This group of donors is
of particular interest to us, as the tests
that we currently use to measure iron
at the time of donation is not able to
identify these cases.
Table 1. Proportion of donors
with abnormal results:
Normal Hb &
Normal Ferritin %
All
78%
Low Hb &
Normal Ferritin %
Male Female
All
79%
3%
76%
Normal Hb &
Low Ferritin %
All
13%
Male Female
0%
6%
Low Hb &
Low Ferritin %
Male Female
All
Male Female
16%
4%
2%
9%
7%
Study Recommendations
Following careful and detailed analysis
of the data obtained during the
study, the various divisions within
SANBS and WPBTS reviewed that
available information and made several
recommendations aimed at ensuring
adequate protection of our donors
while remaining mindful of the security
of the country’s blood supply.
Chief among these were to review the
current Hb cut-off value used for male
donors. Implementing two different
Hb cut-offs for male and female
donors poses significant operation
and logistical challenges which SANBS’
extremely efficient Operations Division
will tackle over the next few months
to ensure an efficient and seamless
transition to a higher Hb cut-off for
males. In addition, in collaboration
with the Medical Division, a system
for monitoring the ferritin levels of
donor sub-groups identified as being
more at risk of iron deficiency will be
evaluated and implemented over the
next financial year.
Finally, we identified a clear need to
improve donor education with regards
to diet following blood donation so as
to ensure a sufficient iron intake.
14
This is particularly important to donors
who are vegetarian as the best sources
of iron are meat and meat based foods.
Although fortified cereals and bread as
well as certain vegetables also contain
high levels of iron, the iron in these
products is more difficult for the body
to absorb. Regular donors should aim to
eat three portions of the iron-rich foods.
To ensure good absorption of iron, one
should avoid drinking tea at mealtimes
as it may reduce iron absorption.
Taking vitamin C on the other hand
improves iron absorption and it is
therefore good practice to take drink
or vitamin C containing foods or
supplements during mealtimes.
In conclusion, we want to thank the
dedicated staff of SANBS and WPBTS
who have gone above and beyond to
ensure the success of this study; a
special thank you to the SANBS Board
for making the funds available that
enabled us to do the study, but the
biggest thank you of all goes to our
donors for their ongoing participation
and support of not only this study
but in all things blood donation –
without you, the hopes and dreams
of so many of our patients and their
families would never come true!
a storm
C h i c k en & ga r li c b re a d k e b a b s,
B l o o d o r a n g e , s p i n ac h & f e ta
“Bursting with vitamin C, the blood orange’s vibrant colour comes from anthocyanin,
an antioxidant reputed to help in the prevention of many degenerative diseases ”
Serves 2
Cooks In 30 minutes
Difficulty Not too tricky
Ingredients
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary.
2 cloves of garlic.
Extra virgin olive oil.
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar.
Cayenne pepper.
2 x 120 g skinless free-range
chicken breasts.
2 thick slices of wholemeal bread.
8 fresh bay leaves.
2 blood oranges, (use regular
oranges if out of season).
100 g baby spinach.
Method
Pick the rosemary leaves and smash up in a pestle and mortar with
a pinch of sea salt. Peel and crush in the garlic, then muddle in 1
tablespoon of oil, the vinegar and a generous pinch of cayenne. Chop the
chicken and bread into 2cm chunks and, in a bowl, toss and mix well with
the marinade until evenly coated. Take a little care in skewering up the
chicken and bread chunks, randomly interspersing them with the bay
leaves on four short skewers and using hardy rosemary stalks, wooden
or metal skewers as appropriate. Of course, check that the skewers will
fit inside your largest non-stick frying pan.
Place the frying pan on a medium-high heat. Lay the skewers in the pan and
cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through and golden. I like
to place a lid and weight on top so that the chicken makes really nice contact
with the pan and gets super crispy.
Meanwhile, top and tail the blood oranges, trim off the peel, then slice into
rounds. Dress the spinach with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of oil,
arrange on your plates with the blood oranges and drizzle with the balsamic.
Top with the kebabs, crumble over the feta and serve with lemon wedges.
1 lemon.
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.
20 g feta cheese.
15
at
Wh
Happens to yo
ur
A unti of blood is drawn
from a volunteer donor.
Units are transported to the nearest
SANBS testing and processing lab.
Blood is collected into a
sterile bag and labelled.
Red blood cells
Contian haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen
throughout the body. Used to treat patients with
aneamia or blood loss due to trauma or injury.
In the processign laboratory, blood is
spun down in a centrifuge and then
separated into different components.
Platelets
Crucial in helping blood clots. Pateints
with low platelet levels often suffer
from bruising and bleeding.
Plasma
Contains proteins and clotting factors
used to treat patients with massive
bleeding or clotting factor deficiencies.
Blood is tested to ensure
that it is safe for transfusion.
Blood is transfused to patients in
need. Just one blood donation has
the potential to save three lives!
Local hospitals place orders
with SANBS for blood products
based on their needs.
5 days
Platelets expire
in 5 days.
42 days
2 years
Red blood cells
expire in 42 days.
16
Plasma has a 2 year shelf life
from the day of collection.
Sz ec h ua n s w e e t & s ou r p r aw n s
Serves 4
Cooks In 45 minutes
Difficulty Super easy
Ingredients
300 g pineapple.
1 red pepper.
1 yellow pepper.
2 cloves of garlic.
1-2 fresh red chillies.
Sea salt.
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger.
24 peeled raw king prawns.
Groundnut oil, or vegetable oil.
150 ml unsweetened
pineapple juice.
3 tablespoons rice or
white wine vinegar.
Method
Peel and slice the pineapple lengthways into 8 wedges, then cut out
and discard the woody core. Preheat a large griddle pan over a high heat,
add the pineapple for 4 minutes, or until charred and bar-marked, turning
occasionally, then remove to a board to cool. Meanwhile, halve, deseed
and finely slice the peppers lengthways. Add to the griddle for about
3 minutes, or until slightly softened and bar-marked, turning halfway.
Peel the garlic and deseed the chillies, then roughly chop and place
into a pestle and mortar. Bash with a pinch of salt to a rough paste.
Peel, finely chop and add the ginger, then bash until broken down
and combined. Place the chilli paste into a large bowl with the prawns
and a splash of oil, then mix well.
Heat a lug of oil in a large wok or non-stick frying pan over a medium-high
heat. Add the prawn mixture and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until just
cooked through. Meanwhile, chop the cooled pineapple into bite-sized
chunks. In a bowl, combine the pineapple juice, vinegar, soy, cornflour
and a splash of water, then add to the wok with the chargrilled pineapple
and peppers. Bring to the boil, then simmer over a low heat for about
2 minutes, or until thickened and reduced. Pick over the coriander leaves,
then serve with steamed rice.
Tablespoon low-salt soy sauce.
½ tablespoon cornflour.
½ bunch of fresh coriander.
17
Chocolate cake
Serves
x16
Cooks In 2 hours
Difficulty Showing off
Ingredients
For the sponge:
250 g unsalted butter,
plus extra for greasing.
150 g quality dark
chocolate (70%).
2 tablespoons olive oil.
300 g caster sugar.
6 large free-range eggs.
150 g self-raising flour.
4 tablespoons quality
cocoa powder.
For the chocolate rice layer:
300 g quality dark chocolate
(70%), plus extra to serve.
1 large knob of butter.
1 splash of double cream.
100 g puffed rice cereal.
For the nougat frosting:
2 large free-range egg whites.
3 tablespoons runny honey.
200 g caster sugar.
½ teaspoon cream of tartar.
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Grease a deep 23cm loose-bottomed
cake tin and line the base and sides with a double layer of greaseproof paper.
For the sponge, smash up the chocolate and melt in a large heatproof bowl
with the butter, oil and sugar over a pan of gently simmering water until
smooth and glossy. Remove the bowl from the heat and leave to cool for 10
minutes, then, using an electric hand whisk at high speed, one-by-one beat
in the eggs until combined. Sift in the flour and cocoa with a good pinch of sea
salt and beat for a short while until just combined. Pour into the prepared tin
and bake for around 50 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out ever
so slightly gooey (the top of the cake will rise up and crack slightly, but don’t
worry, it’ll end up covered by all your lovely toppings). Leave to cool in the
tin for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Place on a
cake stand, use a long knife to carefully slice the sponge into 3 equal rounds
and remove the top two sponges to separate plates.
For your mega-crispy chocolatey rice layer, smash up the chocolate and melt
with the butter and cream in a large heatproof bowl over a pan of gently
simmering water until smooth and glossy. Leave to cool for 5 minutes
(to avoid soggy cereal!), then stir in the puffed rice until evenly coated.
Divide the mixture onto the 3 cooled sponge layers and spread out evenly
across the tops, going right to the edges.
To make the nougat frosting, place the egg whites in a heatproof bowl with
the honey, sugar, cream of tartar, a good pinch of salt and a splash of water.
Place over a pan of gently simmering water, turn up the heat and, with an
electric hand whisk, beat for 6 to 7 minutes or until it starts to form peaks.
Remove the bowl from the heat, add the vanilla extract, orange blossom or
rose water and a dot of food colouring (if using), then carry on beating the
mixture until thick. Leave to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then evenly top each
sponge and stack them up nicely. To finish the cake off, use a large knife to
shave some extra chocolate, then sprinkle it over the top. Add your candles
or sparklers, get them lit and indulge in chocolate celebration cake heaven.
½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
½ teaspoon orange blossom,
or rose water, or natural pink
food colouring (all optional).
18
15 uses for
You Didn’t Know Before
1 | Drink Container Purifier
3 | Stain Remover
6 | N ail-Hole Filler
Plastic bottles and thermoses
that are reused over and over
again start to smell foul.
Washing them with detergent
and water is not a successful
remedy, but toothpaste gets rid
of the odor better than anything
else. Simply brush the inside of
the container with toothpaste
and place in the dishwasher.
Toothpaste can remove the
most difficult stains from your
favourite clothes. Lipstick stains
from shirt collars, juice stains
from T-shirts and spaghetti
sauce on the table cloth. Just
apply toothpaste directly onto
the stain, rub rigorously and
throw it in the washer. Be
careful not to use whitening
toothpaste on colored clothes.
Joint compound or spackling
are more ideal solutions, but
toothpaste works best for smaller
holes made by small nails or pins.
Simply apply it to the hole and wipe
away the excess.
2 | D iamond and Gold
Sparkler
There aren’t many cleaners
that can make jewellery shine
like toothpaste. Simply scrub
them with toothpaste using
a soft bristle toothbrush,
rinse with water before the
toothpaste hardens and shine
with a cloth. Be careful not to
use this technique on pearls as
the abrasives in toothpaste can
scratch the surface.
4 | Revive Headlamps
The cover on headlights gets dirty
and scratched over time, reducing
the brightness of the lights. Clean
the cover with soap and water first,
then buff it with toothpaste and a
polishing pad or cloth.
5 | Shoe Shiner
White or light coloured joggers
usually get ruined by dark scuff
marks. The easiest solution is
to scrub the scuff marks with
toothpaste. This method also
works for dress shoes.
19
7 | S hower-Door Revitalizer
Glass shower doors accumulate
scum very quickly. To give them
their original clarity, simply
wipe it down with a squeeze of
toothpaste on a damp cloth or
sponge. For more stubborn stains,
let the toothpaste sit for a while
and then rinse it off.
8 | D VD Scratch Remover
Minor scratches and smudges
can be removed from discs using
toothpaste. Rub a tiny amount and
work your way from the center
outward with a cotton or microfiber
cloth. This works best with small
scratches and a small amount
should be used since using too
much will worsen the problem.
9 | Hand Freshner
12 | Goggle Defogger
14 | Chrome Cleaner
Soap doesn’t work that well when
you have to remove the heavy smell
of fish, onions, or other stinky
foods from your skin. Toothpaste
works far better for removing odors
and can be used just like soap.
Apply a dab to your hands and rub
it like you would soap. Apply lotion
or moisturizer afterwards.
Goggles that have an antifog coating
can be a bit pricey, but you can make
regular goggles fog-proof using
toothpaste. Rub a small amount
of toothpaste on the inside of the
goggles in gentle circular motions to
prevent scratching the lenses. This
trick works for swimming, bike and
skiing goggles as well.
When you notice the water spots
all over your chrome faucets, use the
toothpaste and rub it gently on the
chrome with a soft cloth, then rinse
it off. This will work for any chrome,
from plumbing fixtures to car wheels.
Use this trick occasionally since
the abrasives in the toothpaste can
gradually wear away the finish.
10 | Iron Cleaner
13 | Sink Shiner
15 | Mobile Screen Fixer
When your iron’s soleplate looks
gunky due to mineral buildup, you
can easily clean it with a damp cloth
and toothpaste. Make sure the iron
is cool and unplugged and wipe the
toothpaste cloth first, then wipe it
with a second cloth.
We have all dropped globs of
toothpaste into our sinks at some
point. But instead of letting it dry
into a ball, use a soft cloth and rub
the toothpaste around your sink to
keep it shining. Once you rinse it,
any odours from the drain will also
be removed.
Devices without a protective
screen can become scratched
over time. Toothpaste can clean
screens on mobile devices such as
cell phones and handheld gaming
consoles. Lightly rub the screen
with toothpaste on a cotton cloth.
Then wipe the screen clean with a
second cloth.
11 | Silver Polisher
Whether it’s forks and spoons,
candlestick holders, or ornaments,
silver can be revived by polishing it
with toothpaste on a soft cloth. For
crevices, use a soft toothbrush and
then wipe the whole thing down with
a dry cloth.
20
Source: wonderfulengineering.com
We all use toothpaste, but it has some amazing properties that make
it great for a lot more things other than just whitening our teeth. Read
on below to see 15 uses for toothpaste that are sure to make life easier.
IN THE
Women’s Day Celebration
in Port Elizabeth
By: Nina van Wyk
A special blood drive was held at the
Walker Drive Blood Donor Centre to
celebrate Women’s Day on Monday,
10 August 2015. Regional radio
station Algoa FM broadcasted live
from the Walker Drive Shopping Centre
promotional court and encouraged the
public to donate blood. The set target
for the day was to reach 80 units of
blood and we were very happy that
106 people presented to donate, of
which 98 units of blood were collected.
Walker Drive Shopping Centre
sponsored shopping centre vouchers
and more surprises and giveaways
were up for grabs to all donors.
Ronel Swarts, a cancer survivor, also
told her story on radio, which inspired
even more people to donate blood.
why we decided to have a Pink Blood
Drive during the month of October.
Donors were spoiled with pink cupcakes
and limited Pink Blood Drive Wristbands.
Upington Branch held a Pink Blood Drive
on Saturday, 10 October 2015. The aim
of the day was to create awareness for
breast cancer and to collect units of
blood to be able to have enough stock
to provide patients in need in hospital
of life saving liquid, blood. Cansa
Upington Centre gave their support
and helped with recruitment. The
target for the day was 30 units and 35
units were collected. Brilliant effort by
everyone involved.
SANBS HOSTS MEDIA BREAKFAST
The Blood Service in South Africa plays
a critical role in the healthcare system.
SANBS needs to collect approximately
3 000 units of blood a day in order
to meet the demand from patients
of South Africa for various blood
products. We rely on the goodwill of
voluntary blood donors in order to
ensure that sufficient blood is available
daily. In this regard we face many
challenges and getting sufficient blood
is therefore an ongoing challenge for
our donor staff, and it is especially
difficult in winter (flu, school holidays)
and during November/ December
(exams and long summer vacation).
Algoa FM DJ Lance du Plessis and Ronel Swarts,
celebrating Women’s Day with SANBS.
Pink Blood Drive
in Bloemfontein
By: Natalie Booysen
During Breast Cancer Awareness month,
you are reminded of just how important
Blood and Blood products are. That is
From left to right. Mercia Kearney (Kalahari Mall
Marketing Manager), Hendrieka Beukes (PRP
SANBS) and Mr. Ettienne Parsons (Cansa Upington)
21
The Media plays a crucial role in
generating awareness on the
importance of blood donation.
Marketing Monique Schreiner. Donors
from Kroonstad, Hennenman, Parys,
Frankfort, Viljoenskroon, Marquard,
Heilbron, Koppies, Senekal and Edenville
attended the event.
SANBS Held media breakfasts in
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape,
to thank the media for their ongoing
support in ensuring that our blood
blanks always have blood.
SANBS hosts 2015 Donor
Awards Ceremony in
Kroonstad
By: BRONWYN PETERSEN
The Kroonstad branch had the privilege
to acknowledge all the donors who met
their special milestones but in particular
Mr Christiaan Swanepoel who received
his award for 275 blood donations.
SANBS would like to thank every
donor for their commitment to blood
donation. This is an example of the
priceless efforts these remarkable
people make to ensure that
thousands of patients in need of blood
transfusions are saved every day.
57 donors attended the blood drive
and 45 units of blood were collected.
The Pink Blood Drive forms part of the
branch’s annual events, in partnership
with CANSA to collect sufficient units
of blood to help those in need and to
celebrate the many lives saved.
SANBS Kroonstad expresses their
sincere gratitude to those donors
who regularly give the gift of
life- saving blood so unselfishly.
Value Logistics Donors
KROONSTAD HOSTS PINK
BLOOD DRIVE
BY: BRONWYN PETERSEN
Alex Christians, Christiaan Swanepoel & Dave Gullett
On the 7th of August, the South African
National Blood Service (SANBS) hosted
its annual Donor Awards Ceremony in
Kroonstad. The ceremony celebrates
the gratitude SANBS has for our regular
and committed blood donors who
reached specific donation milestones
from April to March 2015.12.09
The ceremony was attended by
Mr Alex Christians, SANBS board
member, Mr Isaac Mafisa, Zone Donor
Services Manager and Zone Head of
Value Logistics Donors are proud to be
owners of SANBS winter blankets and
also their 4 x commitment gifts.
They cited they are proud to be
associated with SANBS
Units collected were 33.
Sarita Gullett, Lucell Van Der Ross & Kobus Yawa
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, Saturday 10 October sees
the Kroonstad branch host a pink
blood drive to create much needed
awareness of the need for blood to
save the many lives affected by Cancer.
22
Well done team Value!
IN THE
SANBS AND PROTEA
SUPERSPAR TEAM UP TO
INCREASE BLOOD DONATIONS
IN QUEENSTOWN!
by: René Vice
Monday, 5 October marked the start of
a fabulous relationship between the
South African National Blood Service and
the Protea Superspar in Queenstown!
Protea Superspar came on board with a
wonderful campaign to promote blood
donation in Queenstown by sending
blood drive information to loyalty
customers. As SANBS can only recruit
already existing blood donors who are
on their system, the Protea Superspar
database provided a rich pool of
potential blood donors, many who may
not even be aware of where and when
they can donate blood in Queenstown.
The message sent to Protea Superspar
customers promoted donating blood
at the Queenstown Donor Centre,
situated at 26 Robinson Road, on
Monday, 5 October. Donors and
potential donors were also given the
opportunity to find out what their
blood groups were as SANBS East
London Branch PR Practitioner, René
Vice, did blood groupings at the Donor
Centre on the day.
Not only did the Superspar spread
the word about the blood drive, but
we even got a pint of blood from Keith
Coetzee, the Protea Superspar Floor
Manager, on the day!
René Vice and Protea and Cofimvaba
Superspar Marketing Specialist,
Xabisa Shenxane, look forward to
many more future, fun blood drive
collaborations in the Queenstown
and Cofimvaba area in order to raise
awareness about blood donation.
Protea Superspar employee, Aphumelela Kanuka,
and Marketing Specialist, Xabisa Shenxane, ready
for action outside the 26 Robinson Road Donor
Centre – they helped promote the campaign to
passers-by during the day.
Protea Superspar employee, Siyavuya Kwandla, hands
over a voucher to one of the donors on the day.
From left to right: Ntosh Mbalo, Thandazile Takane
and Olwethu Dyantyi, supporting the cause!
Keith Coetzee, Floor Manager at Protea Superspar
gets a finger prick by René Vice during a blood
grouping session before completing his donor
questionnaire form, below, to donate blood.
The campaign was a great success as
55 people registered to donate blood
on the day - 11 of which were brand
new donors!
23
At SANBS every aspect of the transfusion process is meticulously monitored to
ensure absolute safety of our donors and recipients. Your blood saves lives
Awareness and Commemorative Events
DECEMBER
Prevention of Injuries Month
Skin Cancer Awareness Month
1 December to 31 January
1 | World AIDS Day
3 | International Day of Disabled
Persons
5 | International Volunteers Day
9 | World Patient Safety Day
10 | International Human Rights Day
Awareness in Relevance
to SANBS
16 Days of Activism for No Violence
Against Women and Children 2015
25 November - 10 December
The 16 Days of Activism for No
Violence Against Women and Children
is an international awareness-raising
campaign. It takes place every year
from 25 November (International
Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women) to 10 December
(International Human Rights Day). The
period includes Universal Children’s
Day and World AIDS Day.
2011 to 2015 is: “Getting to Zero”. For
2014, South Africa focused on ZERO
DISCRIMINATION, without losing sight
of the other ‘zeroes’: zero new HIV
infections and zero AIDS related deaths.
International Volunteers Day 2015
5 December
International Volunteer Day is a
chance for individual volunteers,
communities and organisations
to promote their contributions to
development at local, national and
international level. It is a unique
opportunity for individuals and
organisations of volunteers to work
with government agencies, non-profit
institutions, community groups,
academia and the private sector.
World AIDS Day 2015
The International Volunteer Day for
Economic and Social Development (IVD)
was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly through Resolution
A/RES/40/212 on 17 December 1985.
Since then, governments, the UN
system and civil society organisations
have successfully joined volunteers
around the world to celebrate the Day
on 5 December.
1 December
World Patient Safety Day 2015
World AIDS Day is commemorated each
year on the 1st of December and is
an opportunity for every community
to unite in the fight against HIV, show
support for people living with HIV and
remember those who have died.
9 December
The UNAIDS World AIDS Day theme for
Patient safety is a healthcare discipline
that emphasises the reporting,
analysis, and prevention of medical
errors that often lead to adverse
healthcare events. As per statistical
reports, healthcare errors impact
25
1 in every 10 patients around the
world. Therefore, the World Health
Organisation (WHO) calls patient
safety an endemic concern.
December 9, every year, marks the
World Alliance for Patient Safety Day.
The World Health Organisation (WHO)
launched this Alliance Day in 2005
to increase the awareness of unsafe
healthcare. The purpose of Patient
Safety Day is to revolutionise high level
support and commitment to tackle
patient safety issues in all parts of the
world. Let us educate ourselves on
patient safety and issues related to it,
on this day.
Universal Health Coverage Day 2015
12 December
On 12 December 2012, the United
Nations unanimously endorsed
universal health coverage as a pillar
of sustainable development and
global security. The first Universal
Health Coverage Day was celebrated
in 2014.
The principle behind this is that
no one should fall into poverty
because they get sick and need
healthcare. Universal health
coverage (UHC) means that every
person, everywhere, has access
to quality healthcare without
suffering financial hardship.
Each year 1 billion people cannot afford
a doctor, cannot pay for medicine or
cannot access other essential care
without risking impoverishment.
SANBS
supports
16 Days
of no
violence
against
women
and
children
Crossword puzzle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Across
DOWN
1 | Term that describes low blood sugar
2 | S ymptom of low blood sugar
6 | The pulse for someone in Insulin shock
(low blood sugar)
3 | S ymptom of diabetes
8 | What breath may smell like in a diabetic
5 | U sed to be called “Adult Onset Diabetes”
10 | Symptom of low blood sugar
7 | S ymptom of diabetes
11 | Type 1 diabetes
12 | A sign of low blood sugar
9 | A treatment for diabetes that must be
injected to control blood sugar
13 | Symptom of diabetes
14 | A risk factor for type two diabetes
16 | Term that describes high blood sugar
15 | T he organ attacked by the immune
system in type one diabetes
19 | Most common in children
20 | D iabetic emergencies are caused by
an______ between sugar and insulin
in the blood
21 | Skin appearance seen in diabetic coma
22 | W
hat is needed to treat low blood
sugar emergencies
4 | S ymptom of low blood sugar
17 | L oss of conciousness (gradual in
diabetic coma)
18 | T he breathing in someone in insulin
shock (low blood sugar)
Source: armoredpenguine.com
1 December
World AIDS
day
22
OUR # 1 PRIORITY IS
By William Gallacher
One of the underlying principles of any
business should be excellent customer
service as the driving force of any
business, is its customer retention.
SANBS, as the largest South African
non profit organisation in the blood
transfusion fraternity, is no exception.
Here at SANBS, our customers are our
donors who we depend on to ensure
that we always have an adequate supply
of blood to provide to all those in need.
Therefore, donor retention is one of the
most important aspects of our business
model. We strive to ensure that our
donors have a pleasant experience each
time they visit one of our centres, so
we have made it a priority to listen to
their feedback and opinions through our
Customer Feedback System (CFS) which
was launched in January 2011.
CFS is an electronic Customer Feedback
data-gathering system which gathers
information, analyses and reports
real-time customer feedback to make
organisations such as SANBS become
aware of their customer’s opinions.
Through this system, our donors are able
to give us feedback on their experiences
at our donor centres, as well as comment
on the quality of service they receive
each time. This will, in turn assist us to
ensure that our service is maintained at
an optimum level.
The system has been put in place to
help us understand our donors better.
This information will feed into the
SANBS CRM system which will be used
for donor retention, improving donor
communication and customer service.
This data is required to establish how
far the business is with its customer
service levels. Fixed donor centres
have five different templates and
mobile sites only have one
Donors who take time to fill in our
feedback system stand a chance to
win a tablet in our monthly draws.
to the following CFS winners!
They all walk away with a Tablet each.
July 2015
August 2015
September 2015
KZN Shelly Centre
A.C.E. De Klerk
Atterbury Value Mart
Erik Redelinghuys
Higveld Mall
Vukile Mahlangu
To stand a chance of winning, fill in our digital feedback forms
available in all donor centres and you could be our next winner.
27
sanbs.org.za 0800 11 9031