Muir primary keeps on giving to save lives

MUIR College primary school in Uitenhage has taken on the role of a gift that keeps on giving, having topped its previous efforts at saving lives through the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) adopt-a-month challenge.

The initiative sees primary school pupils from around the country dedicating one month of the year to convincing their family and friends to donate blood on their behalf.

The Uitenhage school trumped its record of 130 units donated last year by producing 169 units this year – the highest since the challenge’s inception in 2006.

SANBS national communications manager Vanessa Raju stressed the importance of schools’ blood drives.

“Schools’ blood drives contribute to about 40% of the blood we collect nationally per year.

“This is often the reason why during the school holiday periods we see a decline in the number of blood donations which directly results in blood shortages,” Raju said.

-Tremaine van Aardt