Blood supplies improve as schools open

Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Reporter
BLOOD supplies have gradually improved in the southern region following the opening of schools with the National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) applauding the public for heeding the call to donate.

Last month NBSZ announced that the nation was facing a critical shortage of blood with Blood Type O stocks critically low. A pint of blood can save three lives. Blood is usually needed by pregnant women during delivery, accident victims and patients requiring surgery. Blood types are based on the type of a molecule, called agglutinogen, found on the surface of red blood cells. Types A, B or AB can clump together if mixed, but type O does not react with other blood types, hence those in that group cannot be transfused with other blood groups.

The Covid-19-induced lockdown measures introduced by the Government has had an unintended negative bearing on blood collections as it interrupted the steady flow of blood donations from high yielding panels especially schools and tertiary institutions that contribute over 75 percent of blood in the national blood bank.

NBSZ regional blood donor co-ordinator Mr Sifundo Ngwenya said through strategic blood drives facilitated by different stakeholders, stocks had improved and the organisation was in a position to meet needs.

“We are happy to say that our programming is showing some signs of improvement and we have recorded an improvement in the past weeks. Schools have reopened which worked to our advantage as learners are important stakeholders in our drive to ensure we have enough blood in our banks,” said Mr Ngwenya.

“The number of pints we are getting is not yet enough, but there is a great improvement as residents heeded the call and are coming in numbers to donate blood daily.”

He urged Bulawayo residents to visit their offices and donate blood. Mr Ngwenya said the NBSZ offices in Bulawayo are open from 7.30 AM to 4.30 weekdays and residents are free to pop in and donate blood.

“Our clinic located at the main Post Office building is always open so that we cater for our heroes who are ready to save lives. I know that NBSZ together with dedicated residents is able to improve health care services by ensuring there is always blood in our banks.