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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
Government has been consistent in releasing funds to buy consumables that enable availability of free blood to patients in public health institutions.
Speaking at a media education day in Gweru, National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) public affairs manager Ms Esther Massundah said since Government decided to ensure the supply of free blood to public health institutions last year, it has been consistent in releasing funds to buy consumables that enable its availability.
“With effect from July 2018, Government announced that it was going to offer free blood in all public health institutions in the country, which means it has been meeting all the costs of the patient for blood and blood products, we then increased our collections from 87 000 units in 2018 to our current expectation of 108 400 units this year,” she said.
“Since then, government has never let us down in terms of funding.”
Ms Massundah said the organisation had been able to manage the demand for blood in the hospitals.
“Since the free blood declaration was made by Government, there was an increase in requests for blood from public hospitals, which means more people are now able to access the blood,” she said.
“As NBSZ, we then increased our outreach teams to source more blood from all the corners of this country. We embarked on a vigorous marketing strategy to encourage public and private institutions to join the blood donation drive.
“We are now calling for more people to donate blood so that our stocks remain at the optimum.” Ms Massundah said the country had enough blood stocks to cover any eventualities.
“We can safely inform you that our blood stocks are adequate to meet any needs,” she said. “At least 50 percent of the blood we collect goes towards maternal health. Every time you donate blood chances are high that you are saving the life of a pregnant woman who may need to be given that blood.”
NBSZ Gweru branch manager, Mr Lloyd Kawondera, said the branch supplies blood to 15 public and private hospitals in the Midlands Province.
“We are currently serving a total of 15 hospitals in the province,” he said. “We are happy that we have been able to meet the demand even after the free blood declaration. We continue to encourage people to donate blood as we normally have lower donations from adults than high school students, yet realistically adults need more blood that the youths.”
This year’s World Blood Donor Day will be held in Manicaland under the theme “safe blood for all”.
Online Reporter