adminPartson Pachirera Chronicle Reporter
BLOOD prices have gone down and the government is working to ensure that the cost goes further down to make it affordable to patients. This was said by the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, in a speech read on his behalf by Ingutsheni Central Hospital Operations Director Nyasha Chibvongodze at a ceremony to mark World Blood Donor Day at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) yesterday.
Blood is used in transfusions following road accidents and on pregnant women who suffer blood loss, among others.
“As a Ministry we have been working very hard to find ways of reducing the cost of blood to make it affordable and accessible to ordinary Zimbabweans. Through the National Aids Council, we injected $700,000 into the National Blood Services in 2015 and for 2016 NAC pledged $403,000. I am pleased to inform you that NBS has managed to reduce the cost of a unit of blood from $135 to $120 for all government hospitals and from $161 to $140 for all private hospitals with effect from 8 June 2016. Blood for pregnant mothers remains free,” he said.
The Minister appealed to partners to come forward and assist the government with funding to ensure that the cost further goes down.
Dr Parirenyatwa commended blood donors as they help to save lives.
“As a country we need to ensure that supply of our blood and blood products are sufficient and free of HIV, hepatitis viruses and other infections that can be transmitted through transfusion,” the Minister said.
Youths are the major blood donors in the country, contributing over 70 percent, while adults contribute 29 percent.
derick.khumalo