SANBS-****** or ***********

I am disappointed at the double standards that I have been exposed to after wanting to donate blood. I am a Zimbabwean lady residing in SA. Last year I donated blood after having informed the lady I had not travelled back home since 2017. Today I visited a donation site at Sunnyside and was turned away because I am Zimbabwean and my blood is immune to malaria. I can only donate next year. I am furious because I do not know if it is because your staff is *********** and not well informed or it tribalist and ******. At one point I can donate barely a year later I cannot what is different an what has changed. Foreigners are people who also want to play their part hence the drive to donate blood knowing that it will save lives. I am disgusted at the thought of being turned away because of nothing more than were I am from. I will share this experience with all my foreign colleagues, friends and relatives and discourage them from donating because it is clear our blood is not valued.