adminPaidamoyo Chipunza : Senior Health Reporter
The National Blood Transfusion Services has started blood collection campaigns in major cities to boost its blood bank in preparation for emergencies during the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Holidays. In an interview with The Herald yesterday on the state of the blood bank ahead of the long weekend, NBTS spokesperson Ms Esther Massundah, said the collections started on Wednesday this week.She said today, teams would also be collecting blood through the Pledge 25 campaign in Mutare, Gweru, Bulawayo and Masvingo.
Pledge 25 is a programme that encourages young people to donate blood in huge numbers at a particular time.
Ms Massundah said next week, similar campaigns would also be done in all NBTS centres in Harare.
“The aim is to replace blood that might have been used during the holidays. Previous campaigns have proved to be useful and we are confident that this campaign will be a success,” said Ms Massundah.
She said despite the campaigns, current blood stocks were satisfactory to meet demand during the long weekend.
“We are going into the holiday with satisfactory stocks of blood and, we hope we will be able to meet demand for all emergencies should any arise,” said Ms Massundah.
She said NBTS also had enough stocks of blood group O, which usually had a high demand compared to other blood groups.
In Zimbabwe, the demand for blood transfusion normally rises during public holidays due to increased road accidents as people travel to different destinations and, usually travel in groups for conventions and family gatherings.
School children contribute almost 80 percent of blood to the national bank and often, the school holiday period poses a challenge for the blood bank since schools will be closed.
Most pupils will not be able to make donations and that is also the time when blood is in huge demand, hence the implementation of programmes such as the Pledge 25.
At any given time, the blood bank must have at least 1 500 units of blood.
Online Reporter