Adults urged to donate blood

Health Reporter
Adults should donate to the national blood bank as they are the major beneficiaries, Government has said.

The national blood bank level is far below minimum requirements of 3 000 units with just 1 200 in stock.

School children constitute the bulk of blood donors in Zimbabwe.
In his remarks during the Valentine’s Day blood campaign in Harare on Monday, Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said while 70 percent of the blood bank is contributed by youths, adults used 80 percent of the stock.

“This creates a grossly unfair situation by the adult population, who in my view should do some soulsearching and contribute to the well being of the nation.

“The reason why NBSZ (National Blood Services Zimbabwe) experiences seasonal shortages is because as adults we have abdicated our roles and responsibilities to youths.
“We must recognise we all have a role to play,” Minister Madzorera said.

In an interview afterwards, NBSZ spokesperson Mr Emmanuel Masvikeni said the demand for blood had shoot up in recent years.
Mr Masvikeni attributed this to the fact that the bank also subsidises nongovernmental organisations that give blood for free to pregnant women.

The United Nations Population Fund buys coupons from NBSZ and donates these to hospitals.
Pregnant women then access free blood at the hospitals through the coupons.

He also attributed the high demand to malaria season.
“We are not satisfied with our current stocks of blood because demand has shot up. “Our adults should also consider donating blood to ensure sufficient stocks for the country,” Mr Masvikeni said.

He said as part of their efforts to make blood more accessible, NBSZ has reduced prices for Government institutions from US$78 to US$65 a pint.

Patients receiving treatment from a private institution will fork out US$100 down from US$105, while at mission hospitals the cost remains at US$50 a pint.

Mr Masvikeni said NBSZ had opened three walkin sites in Harare, Chivhu and Hwange to widen their area of coverage.
In collaboration with United States of America’s, President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, NBSZ will open six mobile blood collection teams in the next four years.
NBSZ will get US$55 million annually from PEPFAR and so far they have received US$1,8 million.