Ramadan takes place this year from 5 May to 4 June. Muslims able to give blood are being called to donate before Ramadan begins. Blood donation takes up 30 minutes – only 475ml of blood is taken, and this is replaced within 24 hours.

“Islamic law allows Muslims to take part in blood and organ donation if it will save another person’s life – donating blood once, can save up to three lives as each unit of blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets,” says Aishah Salie, Promotions Supervisor at the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS).

Donors need to be between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh over 50kg, be in good general health and lead a safe sexual lifestyle. The blood donated is given to trauma and accident victims, surgery patients, burn victims and people with blood diseases such as leukaemia and sickle-cell anaemia.

For more information on how you can save a life, SMS “Blood” to 33507, call WCBS on 021 507 6300, e-mail info@wcbs.org.za or visit www.wcbs.org.za. Blood stock updates and interesting facts about donation can be found on Facebook (@TheWCBS), Twitter (@The_WCBS) and Instagram (@thewcbs) accounts.