New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) has reached one of its
highest-ever summer collection targets thanks to the
continued generosity of New Zealanders.
And, with more
than 18,000 appointments nationally still to fill throughout
the remainder of January and into February, it’s
encouraging people to keep donating to help continue that
momentum.
Many regions achieved a record-breaking
number of donations, most notably with the Waikato region
hitting an all-time weekly high of 1050 blood donations and
the Central region setting a new weekly record with 506
blood donations.
More than 21,000 units of blood,
plasma and platelets were collected across New Zealand
between December 11 and January 14, an almost 59 percent
increase during the same period in 2022/2023.
NZBS
National Marketing and Communications Manager Asuka Burge
says the Service wants to thank everyone for the tremendous
support they showed.
“As some people rolled out
their towels, others rolled up their sleeves, and we are
extremely grateful for everyone who donated,” she
says.
“December is an exceptionally busy period with
the Christmas rush, and January is when people are getting
back from their holidays, so the fact that we were able to
reach our collection targets for blood is absolutely
amazing.
“The public response has been phenomenal,
and the number of donations in some regions was the highest
we’ve ever seen over the holiday season. Our regular
donors continued to step up, but we also saw familiar faces
returning after some time off, as well as a surge of
newcomers.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“Our stocks for blood have remained
consistently high, a testament to the kindness and
generosity of our donor Whānau.”
A total of 11,669
blood donations, 9,309 plasma donations, and 304 platelet
donations were collected between December 11 and January
14.
The notable summer collection milestones during
that period included:
- December 13, 2023 –
national record for the largest number of Wednesday
donations, with 778 blood donations collected across the
country. - December 18-23, 2023 – Waikato (1050 blood
donations) and Central (506 blood donations) regions
achieved their biggest-ever weekly collection of blood
donations. Nationally, a total of 3162 blood donations were
collected during the week, setting a new record for highest
national weekly collection. - December 29, 2023 – the
North Shore, Epsom and Manukau regions hit an all-time high
of Friday blood donations with 224 blood donations. The
Central North Island region reached the same milestone with
83 blood donations. - January 9, 2024 – Christchurch
and Dunedin regions set a new record for the highest number
of Tuesday plasma donations with 156
contributions.
That said, the need for blood and
plasma is ongoing and NZBS would like to see people
continuing donating to maintain healthy stock
levels.
To meet demand year round, more than 5000
donations are needed each week. There are 18,095
appointments available across New Zealand between now and
mid-February.
“Blood only lasts 35 days, and the
need for plasma is growing by 10 percent a year, so we need
ongoing donations of both types to have a continuous
supply,” says Ms Burge.
“The easiest way to donate
is by downloading the NZ Blood Service Donor App. It lets
you check your eligibility, find a nearby location and book
an appointment.
“The app will also notify donors
when their donation has been used. It’s a very rewarding
feeling knowing that the hour you took out of your day to
donate helped save a life.
“Please if you haven’t
already, join ourwhānau of lifesavers. The need for blood
or plasma never stops, no matter the time of
year.”
Download the NZ Blood Service Donor App,
visit www.nzblood.co.nz or
call 0800 448 325 to book an appointment to
donate.
© Scoop Media
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading